Introduction

Indian sculpture encompasses a diverse range of styles, materials, and forms, reflecting the country's extensive cultural and historical heritage. Types of Indian sculpture include stone carvings, bronze figures, woodwork, and terracotta pieces. These sculptures often depict religious and mythological themes, with prominent representations of deities, symbols, and scenes from Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Historically, Indian sculpture has played a significant role in temple architecture, palace decor, and ritual practices. Culturally, it has been a medium for expressing spiritual and philosophical ideas, contributing to the preservation of India’s religious traditions and artistic legacy across centuries.

Indian Temple Sculptures

Indian temple sculptures can be divided into two types: the Nagara (North India) and the Dravidian (South India). The primary difference between the two is the way in which the shikharas of the temples are carved out.

Indian Schools of Sculptures

Indian Schools of Sculptures are very ancient and rich in nature. India has witnessed the art in a form of sculpture due to the patronage of various kings and migratory groups.

Famous Indian Sculptures

Famous Indian sculptures are incorporated in the Indian temple sculptures, Indian cave sculptures and Indian stupa sculptures. The religious places in India are the best sources for finding more about the remarkable sculptures of India.

Colonial Sculptures in India

Colonial sculptures in India primarily include statues of British officials, soldiers, and monarchs, often made from bronze and marble. These sculptures reflect the British influence during colonial rule and were typically placed in public spaces. 

Deccan Sculptures

Deccan Sculptures are known for their charming ornamental designs. They echo the true essence of Gupta art. The sculptures have been influenced by ruling dynasties like Cholas, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas and Rashtrakutas.

Indian Religious Sculptures

Indian religious sculptures represent different religious faiths and beliefs which find expressions through artistic elements. India is a mosaic of religions and every faith has carved out a cozy niche for itself.

Indo Saracenic Sculptures

Indo Saracenic sculptures were a synthesis of Indian, Persian and Gothic styles. It was an architectural style mostly used by British architects in India. This style came in to existence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Sikh Sculptures

Sikh sculptures are an essential part of Indian sculpture’s remarkable specimens. The Sikh sculpture and architecture represent a synthesis of the Muslim and native Hindu styles.

Jain Sculptures of India

Jain sculptures were primarily notable for their splendour. The brilliance of the Jain sculptures can be seen from fine images of the Jain Tirthankaras. Columned chambers, inner sanctums, domes and pointed spires are the common elements of the Jain sculpture.

Buddhist Indian Sculptures

Buddhist Indian sculpture is a type of sculpture which was developed in India around 255 BC, especially, due to the efforts of Mauryan emperor, Ashoka. He was impressed by the ideologies of Buddhism and adopted it as the state religion.

Islamic Sculptures

Islamic Sculptures in India evolved by following the idioms of both the Persian art and the ancient Hindu art and sculpture. In fact it was with the invasion of the Muslim and the emergence of Delhi Sultanates that the Islamic sculpture came into vogue.

Indian Bronze Sculptures

Sculpture of Bronzes immensely radiates a sense of immortality and powerfully reflects the fascination and mystery about the ancient cultures of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.

Indian Sand Sculptures

Sand sculpture is reminiscent of any Indian sculptures and can be of multiple shapes, sizes and forms. This form of art was native to Odisha but has now spread its roots to the whole of India.

Indian Marble Sculptures

Indian Marble Sculptures bear the excellent style and patterns of the finest craftsmanship that are achieved with quality. They provide an eloquent glimpse of strikingly attractive, versatile sizing of beautiful artistic designs.

Indian Stone Sculptures

Indian stone sculptures, carved from materials like sandstone, granite, and marble, hold great historical and cultural significance. These works range from temple carvings to freestanding statues, often depicting religious figures, deities, and mythological scenes. 

Indian Metal Sculptures

Metal sculptures are mainly moulded out of iron. Iron is generally believed to be a protection against witchcraft. Tribals have used iron to ward off evil spirits. The iron sculptures are symbolic; they are tongs, tridents, rods and chains.

Dravidian Art and Sculpture

The evolution of Dravidian art and sculpture was primarily concentrated in South India. It had emerged in these parts of India thousand years ago and was patronized by the Pallava, Pandava, Nayakkar, Chola, Chalukya, Hoysalas, Rashtrakutas and Vijayanagara kingdoms.

Rajput Sculptures

Rajput Sculptures and art received great patronage from its rulers. As a result the art and architecture under the Rajputs thrived. However, it may be pointed out that initially most of the features of Rajput sculptures were inspired from the Mughals.

Gupta Sculptures in India

Gupta sculptures mirror the artistic talent that was predominant in the Gupta Dynasty. The Gupta Empire in India developed its own idiom for constructing sculptures and monuments.

Sculptures of Kushana Empire

Sculptures of Kushana Empire, especially those which belonged to the Gandhara region show a strong influence of Greek and Roman elements. Its images wear toga-like garments and have wavy hair and straight Roman noses.

Sculptures of Satavahana Empire

Sculptures of the Satavahana Dynasty remained iconic till their rule in the 2nd century. Primarily the Satavahana style of art and sculpture was dominated by the faith of Buddhism.

Sculptures of Mauryan Empire

Sculptures of the Mauryan Empire include those forms of art which were crafted during this period and are renowned specimens of Mauryan Art. Some of Ashoka`s edicts carved on pillars and rocks made out of sandstone, represent the earliest known stone sculptures.

Sculptures of Chalukya Empire

Chalukya sculptures evolved completely different school of art and architecture in ancient India. The most abiding legacy of the Chalukya sculptures is its architecture and sculpture.

Sculptures of Chola Empire

The remarkable Chola sculptures adorned the temple walls in South India. Most of these temples were dedicated to either to Lord Shiva or Lord Vishnu. These magnificent structures were built according to temple Vastu Shastra.

Sculptures of Western Chalukya Empire

Western Chalukya sculptures followed the idiom of the Dravidian architecture. These sculptures distinguished themselves from their predecessors in their ornamentation. During the 11th and 12th centuries this style evolved and is also known as Kalyani architecture.

Sculptures of Rashtrakuta Empire

Rashtrakuta sculpture is reflected in the splendid rock-cut cave temples at Ellora and Elephanta in Maharashtra. The main structures built during the rule of the Rashtrakutas were the rock cut caves.

Sculptures of Mughal Empire

The Mughal sculptures emerged in India during 16th and 17th centuries. This school of architecture brought in the Persian influence on Indian art and architecture. The Mughal sculptures specifically refer to art pieces from the Babur era.

Sculptures of Vijayanagara Empire

Vijayanagara Sculptures combined the Chalukya, Chola, Pandya and Hoysala architectural modes. Soapstone was used for sculpture as it is soft and could be easily carved.

Sculptures of Pallava Empire

Pallava sculptures came into being from the 4th to 9th centuries. It was during the Pallava reign that the rock cut architecture flourished. The earliest specimens of Pallava art and architecture dated back to the 610 to 690 AD.

Sculptures of Ahom Empire

Ahom sculpture reveals an infusion between folk elements and techniques. Artists during this period attempted to imitate the Pala style. Ahom artists were ignorant of Hindu iconography due to which they committed some mistakes in sculpting the figures of Hindu divinity.