[Mission 2024] STATIC QUIZ, 22 September 2023 – Art and Culture

Solution: c)

Described as a “masterpiece of Gupta-Chalukyan art”, the most important sculpture in the caves is the Trimurti, carved in relief at the back of the cave facing the entrance, on the north-south axis.

It is also known as Trimurti Sadashiva and Maheshmurti.

The image, around 20 ft in height, depicts a three-headed Shiva, representing Panchamukha Shiva.

The three heads are said to represent three essential aspects of Shiva: creation, protection, and destruction.

Solution: a)

There are three major themes vashinavite usually painted on temple panels.

• Sheshashayana is the form of Vishnu where he is shown reclining on the sheshanaga called Ananta.
• Nara-Narayan shows the discussion between the human soul and the eternal divine.
• Gajendramoksha is the story of achieving moksha, symbolically communicated by Vishnu’s suppression of an asura who had taken the form of an elephant.

Solution: a)

Akbar’s tomb at Sikandara near Agra was completed by Jahangir. Nur Jahan built the Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah at Agra. It was constructed wholly of white marble with floral designs made of semi-precious stones on the walls. This type of decoration was called pietra dura.

This method became more popular during the reign of Shah Jahan. The pietra dura method was used on a large scale in the Taj Mahal by Shah Jahan.

Solution: b)

When the Pandyas rose to power, they too patronised art. Tirumalaipuram caves and Jaina caves at Sittanvasal are some of the surviving examples.

A few fragmented layers of paintings can be seen in Tirumalaipuram. In Sittanavasal, the paintings are visible on the ceilings of shrines, in verandas, and on the brackets.

On the pillars of the veranda are seen dancing figures of celestial nymphs. The contours of figures are firmly drawn and painted in vermilion red on a lighter background.

The body is rendered in yellow with subtle modelling. Supple limbs, expression on the faces of dancers, rhythm in their swaying movement, all speak of the artists’ skill in creative imagination in visualising the forms in the architectural context.

Solution: a)

The art of painting in Central India, Rajasthani and the Pahari region etc. is deeply rooted in the Indian traditions, taking inspiration from Indian epics, religious texts like the Puranas, love poems in Sanskrit and other Indian languages, Indian folk-lore and works on musical themes.

The cults of Vaishnavism, Saivism and Sakti exercised tremendous influence on the pictorial art of these places. Among these the cult of Krishna was the most popular one which inspired the patrons and artists.