Foreword / Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur -- Divine gesture : the magnificence of Mewar spirituality / Dr Alka Pande -- The collection. Gods -- Goddesses -- Surasundaris -- Animal motifs -- Architectural elements -- Narrative and decorative panels -- Memorial stones -- Proliferating prasadas in Mewar / Prof. Adam Hardy -- Traditions and transmission : Mewar's art and Mandan's texts / Dr Rima Hooja -- The temples, the sutradhar and the murtikar : continuity of a living heritage in Mewar / Dr Shikha Jain -- The iconography of Mewar sculptures / Dr Hansmukh Seth -- Museumizing The City Palace collection / Julia Trouilloud -- Glossary -- Acknowledgements -- Authors -- Appendix -- Map.
Summary:
"Divine Gesture: The Magnificence of Mewar Spirituality is undoubtedly an important art historical document. The book serves as a catalogue for the 308 sculptures that are a part of the collections of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), Udaipur. What makes this book unique is the fact that there is perhaps no gallery or catalogue that documents an unbroken tradition of sculptures, from the 7th century CE to the 20th century CE, from a specific region. The sculptures present a 'particular' depiction of the magnificence and spirituality of Mewar, drawing from the larger metanarrative of Rajasthan's grand temple-building tradition. The singular iconography and the distinct stylistic and thematic content of the sculptures has been well explored and researched. The bouquet of five distinct essays presents a diverse range of scholarship, with each author bringing a fresh perspective to the art history of the region. The authors have narrated perspectives of art history, iconography, thematics, the very act of temple-building and custodianship. The readers, it is hoped, will be more informed about the region's rich history and its honest sharing of heritage. The book is a tribute to Mewar's sculptures which, till recent times, were relatively unknown and not acknowledged for their grandeur."-- Dust jacket.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.