Art of India and Beyond

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford has one of the best collections of Indian art in Britain, thanks to the generosity of its benefactors and donors from the 17th century to the present. This book offers a short account of how the collection developed and a selection of some of its more outstanding or interesting works of art. It also ventures beyond the Indian subcontinent by including works from Afghanistan, Central Asian Silk Road sites, Nepal, Tibet, and Southeast Asia. By the late 19th century, British rule and new technologies brought about a decline in many of India's traditional arts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 08 October 2021
Publisher: Ashmolean Museum

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford boasts an exceptional collection of Indian art, surpassing any other collection outside London. This remarkable assemblage showcases a wide range of masterpieces that exude immense beauty and profound artistic expression. The credit for this extraordinary collection belongs primarily to the benevolence, expertise, and discerning taste of our generous benefactors and donors, spanning from the 17th century to the present. This book provides a concise overview of the evolution of the collection, highlighting some of its most remarkable and captivating artworks. While primarily designed for the general reader and museum visitor, it also contains numerous exquisite objects and images, some of which have remained unpublished.

Since 1987, the Ashmolean has made numerous significant acquisitions of Indian art, further enriching its holdings. As suggested by the title, this collection extends beyond the boundaries of the Indian subcontinent, encompassing works from Afghanistan, Central Asian Silk Road sites, Nepal, Tibet, and Southeast Asia. The historical connections between India, these diverse regions, and the spread of Buddhism and Hinduism, along with their associated arts, are intricately woven into the narrative of this book.

The selection of artworks in this collection concludes around 1900. During the 16th century and the early modern period in India, the increasing influence of European interventions and Western artistic influences under Mughal rule led to a significant shift in sensibility and the practice of more secular and naturalistic forms of court art, such as portraiture. By the late 19th century, profound cultural transformations under British rule and the advent of new technologies brought about a new era in Indian art.

Weight: 1300g
Dimension: 264 x 210 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781910807507