Rampurva Bull Capital-Polished sandstone-Mauryan Period (3rd century BC)

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Title : Rampurva Bull Capital
Medium : Polished sandstone
Date : Mauryan Period (3rd century BC)
Finding Site : Rampurva
Size : 7 ft (Approx)
Artist : Unknown
Collection : Indian Museum, Kolkata

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Emperor Ashoka engraved his edicts and teachings of Lord Buddha on pillars,
rock surfaces and tablets. 
Ashokan pillars have been found in almost every region
of India except extreme southern region. His pillars consisted of three parts – a
base, an elongated shaft, and the decorated crown of the pillar, called the Capital.

Capitals are mostly consisted of one or more animal figures, an inverted lotus, which
serves as the base of these animal figures. A thick disc kind of structure known as
abacus is between the animals and the lotus. Bull Capital is one of the most famous
ones among the Ashokan capitals. It is also known as Rampurva Bull Capital, after
the name of the place from where this is found. 
This particular one is comprised of
a bell shaped inverted lotus as the base, the abacus and on the top the animal part
– a majestic bull. 
There are plant designs around the abacus. Scholars are of opinion that these motifs had either come from earlier Middle East or Post Greek Style.

The designs are very minutely and accurately carved. The figure of the Bull dominates over the lotus and the abacus. Though the part of the stone in between the
four legs is not carved out, it doesn’t disturb the strength or beauty of the bull. 
We
can feel the weight and the power of the animal and there lies the success of the
artist. In fact the ornate quality of the lotus base and the abacus create a contrast
with the plain representation of the bull. 
The carving of the Bull obviously shows
mastery of the Indian sculptor over their subjects. 
What is unique about this Bull
Capital, is its extremely polished quality. This is one of the most important characteristics of the Mauryan sculptures from Ashokan period. 
According to the scholars, the technique of high polish was learnt from the sculptors of Middle East.


Author: unknown
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History of art in India 
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