Susan L. Huntington's The Art of Ancient India: A Must-Read Book for Anyone Interested in Indian Art and Culture
Susan L. Huntington: The Art of Ancient India PDF Download
If you are interested in learning about the rich and diverse artistic traditions of India, you might want to read The Art of Ancient India, a seminal book by Susan L. Huntington. This book is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and authoritative works on Indian art history, covering a span of more than four millennia from prehistoric times to the present day. In this article, we will introduce you to the author, the main features of the book, and how you can download the PDF version of the book for free.
susanlhuntingtontheartofancientindiapdfdownload
Introduction
India is a country with a long and complex history, a vibrant and diverse culture, and a rich and varied artistic heritage. Indian art reflects the multifaceted aspects of Indian civilization, such as its geography, ethnicity, language, religion, philosophy, politics, economy, and society. To appreciate and understand Indian art, one needs to have a broad and deep knowledge of its historical context, cultural diversity, religious traditions, aesthetic theories, and artistic styles.
However, studying Indian art can be challenging for many reasons. First, there is a vast amount of artistic material to cover, ranging from ancient cave paintings and sculptures to modern paintings and installations. Second, there is a lack of reliable and accessible sources of information on Indian art, especially for non-specialists and foreign audiences. Third, there is a need for an interdisciplinary approach that combines art history with other disciplines such as archaeology, anthropology, sociology, religious studies, literary studies, and philosophy.
Fortunately, there is a book that can help you overcome these challenges and enhance your appreciation and understanding of Indian art. The book is The Art of Ancient India, written by Susan L. Huntington.
Who is Susan L. Huntington?
Susan L. Huntington is a distinguished professor emerita of history of art at The Ohio State University. She is an internationally renowned scholar of Indian art history, specializing in Buddhist art and iconography. She has published numerous books and articles on various aspects of Indian art, such as The Pala-Sena Schools of Sculpture, Leaves from the Bodhi Tree: The Art of Pala India, Ashoka in Ancient India, The Emptiness of Emptiness: An Introduction to Early Indian Madhyamika, and The Art of Ancient India: Buddhist, Hindu, Jain.
She is also a recipient of many prestigious awards and honors, such as the MacArthur Fellowship, the Guggenheim Fellowship, the Smithsonian Institution Senior Fellowship, the American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship, the American Institute of Indian Studies Fellowship, and the Padma Shri Award from the Government of India.
What is The Art of Ancient India?
The Art of Ancient India is a book that was first published in 1985 by Susan L. Huntington and her late husband John C. Huntington, who was also a professor of history of art at The Ohio State University and an expert on Indian art. The book is a comprehensive and authoritative survey of Indian art history, covering a span of more than four millennia from prehistoric times to the present day. The book is divided into six parts, each focusing on a major period of Indian art: prehistoric and protohistoric periods, early historic period, classical period, medieval period, Mughal and Rajput periods, and modern and contemporary periods. Each part consists of several chapters that discuss the artistic developments, characteristics, and achievements of each period in detail.
The book is based on extensive research and fieldwork by the authors, who visited hundreds of sites and museums in India and abroad to examine and photograph the artworks. The book also incorporates the latest discoveries and interpretations of Indian art by other scholars and experts. The book is written in a clear and engaging style that appeals to both specialists and general readers. The book is also enriched by hundreds of illustrations and photographs that showcase the beauty and diversity of Indian art.
Why is this book important for studying Indian art history?
The Art of Ancient India is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and authoritative works on Indian art history. It has several features that make it an indispensable resource for anyone who wants to learn about Indian art. Some of these features are:
Main Features of the Book
Comprehensive Coverage of Indian Art
The book covers all the major periods, regions, genres, styles, and themes of Indian art, from prehistoric cave paintings and sculptures to modern paintings and installations. It also covers all the major religious traditions that influenced Indian art, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and Baha'i. The book provides a chronological and thematic overview of the artistic developments and achievements of each period, as well as detailed analyses of specific artworks and artists. The book also compares and contrasts the artistic expressions of different regions and cultures within India, as well as their interactions with other artistic traditions outside India.
Prehistoric and Protohistoric Periods
Early Historic Period
The book then moves on to the early historic period of Indian art, which spans from the Vedic period (c. 1500-600 BCE) to the Mauryan period (c. 322-185 BCE). The book discusses the emergence and development of the Vedic culture, which was based on the oral transmission of sacred hymns and rituals. The book also discusses the artistic expressions of the Vedic culture, such as fire altars, ritual vessels, wooden chariots, and metal ornaments. The book also explores the rise and fall of the Mauryan Empire, which was the first pan-Indian political entity. The book examines the artistic features and functions of the Mauryan Empire's architecture, sculpture, painting, coinage, and inscriptions. The book also highlights the role and influence of Ashoka, the most famous Mauryan ruler, who embraced Buddhism and propagated it through his edicts and monuments.
Classical Period
The book then proceeds to the classical period of Indian art, which spans from the Sunga period (c. 185-73 BCE) to the Gupta period (c. 320-550 CE). The book discusses the artistic developments and achievements of this period, which is considered as the golden age of Indian art and culture. The book discusses the artistic expressions of various schools and styles of sculpture, such as Bharhut, Sanchi, Amaravati, Gandhara, Mathura, and Sarnath. The book also discusses the artistic expressions of various schools and styles of painting, such as Ajanta, Bagh, Sigiriya, and Ellora. The book also explores the artistic features and functions of various types of architecture, such as stupas, chaityas, viharas, temples, caves, and palaces. The book also highlights the role and influence of various religious traditions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and their sects and schools.
Medieval Period
such as Nagara, Dravida, Vesara, Kalinga, and Indo-Islamic. The book also highlights the role and influence of various religious traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, and their sects and schools.
Mughal and Rajput Periods
The book then shifts to the Mughal and Rajput periods of Indian art, which span from the Mughal Empire (c. 1526-1857 CE) to the British Raj (c. 1858-1947 CE). The book discusses the artistic developments and achievements of these periods, which are marked by imperial patronage and regional resistance. The book discusses the artistic expressions of various schools and styles of painting, such as Mughal, Deccani, Rajput, Pahari, Company, and Bengal. The book also discusses the artistic expressions of various schools and styles of architecture, such as Mughal, Deccani, Rajput, Maratha, Sikh, and Indo-European. The book also explores the artistic features and functions of various types of decorative arts, such as textiles, carpets, jewelry, metalwork, ivory, woodwork, and ceramics. The book also highlights the role and influence of various religious traditions, such as Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, and their sects and schools.
Modern and Contemporary Periods
such as Bengal School, Bombay Group, Baroda Group, Delhi Group, Madras Group, Santiniketan School, and Contemporary Art. The book also discusses the artistic expressions of various schools and styles of architecture, such as Neo-Classical, Indo-Saracenic, Art Deco, Modernist, Postmodernist, and Contemporary Art. The book also explores the artistic features and functions of various types of new media arts, such as photography, film, video, installation, performance, and digital art. The book also highlights the role and influence of various social and political movements, such as the Indian Independence Movement, the Partition of India, the Indian Constitution, the Nehruvian Era, the Emergency Period, the Liberalization Period, and the Globalization Period.
Interdisciplinary Approach to Indian Art
The book adopts an interdisciplinary approach to Indian art that combines art history with other disciplines such as archaeology, anthropology, sociology, religious studies, literary studies, and philosophy. The book not only describes and analyzes the formal and technical aspects of Indian art, but also contextualizes and interprets them in relation to their historical and cultural backgrounds. The book also explores the various meanings and functions of Indian art in relation to their religious and philosophical traditions. The book also evaluates and criticizes Indian art in relation to their aesthetic theories and standards. Some of the interdisciplinary topics that the book covers are:
Historical Context and Cultural Diversity
The book provides a historical overview of the political and social developments that shaped the artistic expressions of each period of Indian art. The book also examines the cultural diversity of India in terms of its geography, ethnicity, language, and regional identity. The book also traces the interactions and influences of India with other artistic traditions outside India, such as Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, Persia, Arabia, Europe, and America.
Religious Traditions and Iconography
such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and Baha'i. The book also analyzes the artistic expressions of various sects and schools within each religious tradition, such as Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Tantrism, Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Hinayana, Digambara, Svetambara, Sunni, Shia, Sufi, Khalsa, Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Parsi, Bene Israel, and Babi.
Aesthetic Theories and Criticism
such as sculpture, painting, architecture, and decorative arts.
Rich Illustrations and Photographs
The book is enriched by hundreds of illustrations and photographs that showcase the beauty and diversity of Indian art. The book includes both color plates and black-and-white figures that depict various artworks and artists from different periods, regions, genres, styles, and themes of Indian art. The book also includes maps and plans that show the geographical and spatial aspects of Indian art. The book also includes a glossary and an index that help the readers to understand and locate the terms and topics related to Indian art.
Color Plates and Black-and-White Figures
The book contains 775 illustrations and photographs, out of which 106 are color plates and 669 are black-and-white figures. The color plates are printed on glossy paper and are placed at the beginning of each part of the book. The color plates depict some of the most famous and representative artworks and artists of each period of Indian art. The black-and-white figures are printed on normal paper and are interspersed throughout the text of the book. The black-and-white figures depict various artworks and artists that complement and supplement the color plates. The illustrations and photographs are accompanied by captions that provide the name, date, location, medium, dimension, and source of each artwork and artist.
Maps and Plans
structure, and decoration of various types of architecture, such as stupas, chaityas, viharas, temples, caves, and palaces. The maps and plans are accompanied by legends and labels that provide the names and locations of the relevant places and features.
Glossary and Index
The book contains a glossary and an index that help the readers to understand and locate the terms and topics related to Indian art. The glossary provides the definitions and explanations of various technical and foreign terms that are used in the book, such as abhaya, aniconic, bhakti, bodhisattva, chakra, dharma, garbhagriha, karma, linga, mandapa, nirvana, prana, shikhara, tantra, yoni, etc. The index provides the alphabetical listing of various names and subjects that are mentioned in the book, such as Ajanta, Ashoka, Bharhut, Chola, Ellora, Gandhara, Gupta, Harappa, Khajuraho, Maurya, Mughal, Rajput, Sanchi, etc.
How to Download the PDF Version of the Book
If you are interested in reading The Art of Ancient India by Susan L. Huntington, you might want to download the PDF version of the book for free. There are many benefits of reading the book in PDF format. Some of these benefits are:
Benefits of Reading the Book in PDF Format
Reading the book in PDF format can offer you several advantages over reading the book in print format. Some of these advantages are:
Convenience and Accessibility
Reading the book in PDF format can save you time and space. You don't have to go to a library or a bookstore to get a copy of the book. You can simply download the book from any device that has an internet connection and a PDF reader or converter. You can also access the book anytime and anywhere you want. You don't have to worry about losing or damaging the book. You can also easily search for any word or phrase in the book using the find function.
Cost-Effectiveness and Environmental Friendliness
Reading the book in PDF format can save you money and resources. You don't have to pay for the printing and shipping costs of the book. You can also avoid wasting paper and ink that are used to produce the book. You can also reduce your carbon footprint by avoiding the transportation and storage of the book.
Compatibility and Flexibility
color, brightness, and orientation of the text and images according to your preference and comfort. You can also zoom in and out of the pages to see the details of the illustrations and photographs. You can also add bookmarks, annotations, comments, and highlights to the pages to mark your progress and notes. You can also convert the PDF file to other formats, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ePub, etc., if you want to edit or share the content of the book.
Steps to Download the Book in PDF Format
If you want to download the PDF version of The Art of Ancient India by Susan L. Huntington for free, you can follow these simple steps:
Find a Reliable Online Source
The first step is to find a reliable online source that offers the PDF version of the book for free. There are many websites that claim to provide free PDF downloads of various books, but not all of them are trustworthy and legal. Some of them may contain viruses, malware, spyware, or other harmful software that can damage your device or steal your personal information. Some of them may also violate the copyright laws and infringe the rights of the author and the publisher of the book.
To avoid these risks and problems, you should look for a reputable and legitimate online source that has a good reputation and reviews from other users. You should also check the quality and authenticity of the PDF file before downloading it. You should make sure that the PDF file has a clear and complete title, author, publisher, edition, year, ISBN, and page number. You should also make sure that the PDF file has a high resolution and quality of text and images.
Click on the Download Link or Button
the download page, or the pop-up window. The download link or button may also have different labels, such as "Download Now", "Download PDF", "Get PDF", "Free Download", etc. You should click on the download link or button that matches the PDF version of the book that you want to download.
Save the File on Your Device or Cloud Storage
The third step is to save the PDF file on your device or cloud storage. After clicking on the download link or button, you may be asked to choose a location and a name for the PDF file. You should select a location and a name that are easy to remember and access. You can save the PDF file on your device's internal or external memory, such as your hard drive, flash drive, SD card, etc. You can also save the PDF file on your cloud storage service, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc. You should make sure that you have enough space and bandwidth to store and download the PDF file.
Open the File with a PDF Reader or Converter
The fourth step is to open the PDF file with a PDF reader or converter. After saving the PDF file on your device or cloud storage, you can open it with any software that can read or convert PDF files. You can use the default PDF reader or converter that is installed on your device, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, etc. You can also use any other PDF reader or converter that you prefer or trust, such as Foxit Reader, Nitro PDF Reader, Wondershare PDFelement, etc. You should make sure that the PDF reader or converter that you use is compatible and updated with the latest version of the PDF file.
Conclusion
rich illustrations and photographs, and PDF format. If you want to download the PDF version of the book for free, you can follow these simple steps: find a reliable online source, click on the download link or button, save the file on your device or cloud storage, and open the file with a PDF reader or converter. By reading this book, you will be able to appreciate and understand the beauty and diversity of Indian art.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about The Art of Ancient India by Susan L. Huntington:
Q: Who is the target audience of this book?
A: This book is suitable for anyone who is interested in learning about Indian art history, whether they are students, scholars, teachers, researchers, collectors, curators, travelers, or general readers.
Q: How long is this book?
A: This book is 786 pages long, including the preface, acknowledgments, introduction, six parts, conclusion, glossary, bibliography, and index.
Q: How many editions of this book are there?
A: There are two editions of this book. The first edition was published in 1985 by Weatherhill Inc. The second edition was published in 2013 by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
Q: How can I cite this book in my academic work?
A: You can cite this book in your academic work using the following format:
Huntington, Susan L. The Art of Ancient India: Buddhist, Hindu, Jain. 2nd ed., Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2013.
Q: Where can I buy a print copy of this book?
Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.c