Art
& Culture of Mathura
The Mathura Schools of Art reached its pinnacle during the Kushan Period. The
Most important work of this period is the anthromorphic image of the Buddha
who was hitherto represented by certain symbols. The artists of Mathura and
Gandha were pioneers who carved out images of the Buddha. Images of Jain Tirthankars
and Hindu deities were also made in Mathura. Generally, all these intial images
were huge in size. Their excellent specimens are still preserved in the museums
at Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad and Mathura. Colossal images, in seated or standing
postures, of Kushan emperors Vim Kadphises and Kanishk and Saka ruler Chashtan
have also been found at Math in Mathura district.
They are stated to have been installed in dev-kul (probably a place for worship
of ancestors).There is not doubt that Mathura was the center of manufacturing
of stone images (sculpture) during the Kushan Period. These images had a great
demand in other parts of the country. Scenes depicted on Stone pillars found
in Bhuteshwar and other places in Mathura district present glimpses of contemporary
life including dresses, ornaments, means of entertainment, arms, household furniture,
etc.
Stone carvings of intoxicated groups of people that have been found, speak about
foreign (Hellenistic) influence on this school of art. Considerable construction
activities have come to notice in Sarnath also in Kushan Period, ruins of several
monasteries, temples and Stupas of that period lie catered there even today.
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