Amravati School of Art

• Amaravati School represents the evolution of uniquely beautiful regional art style based on a thriving commercial and imperial system.

• The Amravati Stupas began about the time of Christ but the perfection of form and proportion seen in the middle phase of Amaravati as well as some of the themes continued to influence art atNagarjuankonda and also later Vakataka and Gupta art styles. 

• It shows a mastery of stone sculpture. The monuments at Jaggayyapera, Nagarjuna-konds and Amaravati are some examples. 

• All the railings of the Amaravati stupa are made out of marble while the dome itself is covered with slabs of the same material. Currently, the entire stupa is in ruins. Fragments of its railings have been partly taken to the British Museum. 

• The figures of Amaravati have slim blithe features and they are represented in most difficult poses and curves. 

 Features of Amravati School of Art 

 • The stupas at Amaravati are predominantly made of a distinctive white marble. 

• The sculptures at Amaravati have a profound and quiet naturalism in human, animal and floral forms. There is a sense of movement and energy in the sculptures. 

• The human figures are slender and slightly elongated.

• The faces are oval with sharp and well delineated and expressive features.

• The animals such as makaras have scaly naturalism and the vegetation environment is lush  

• There is emphasis on the narrative element with stories from the life of Buddha and bodhisattva dominating such episodes relating to the Birth, the miracles, Enlightenment and the victory over Mara, Sundari, Nanda, Tushita heaven and Angulimala.

• There are few Jataka scenes such as the Shibi, Nalagiri and Chhadanta Jatakas.

• The technical excellence of sculptures in caging plants and flowers; particularly die lotuses at Amaravati are most admirably represented in this school. 

• The Buddha is mostly represented by symbols.

Source:: Iasscore