Christian Themes in Indian Art: From the Mogul Times till Today
By- Anand Amaladass SJ and Gudrun
Lowner
This book is a pioneering work
presenting Christian themes in Indian art from the beginnings of Christianity
in India till today. The authors have, in the main, dealt with paintings and
sculptures, but have supplemented this with one chapter on architecture,
particularly that of church buildings, and one on popular art, including
stamps. More than 1,100 rare coloured illustrations make this publication a
unique reference book. It is the first complex treatment of the theme done in
the last 25 years. Special emphasis is given to artists who as Hindus, Muslims
and Parsees have chosen to paint Biblical themes. Already in the 16th
century the encouraging and surprising encounter between European Christian
prints and Indian miniature paintings took place. The Muslim Emperor Akbar
invited three Jesuit missions from Goa to the Mogul court. Fascinated by
European Madonnas and engravings, especially with Christian themes, he ordered
his paintings to copy them in various ways. This was the start of a
revolutionary fusion in Indian miniatures.
Most of the Bengali artists who
were attracted by the human God Jesus and his agony are Hindus like Nandalal
Bose, Jamini Roy, Nikhal Biswas, Arup Das, Suhas Roy, Suman Roy, Sudip Roy etc.
The authors always give a short biography and then highlight his/her works
connected with the theme. The late Muslim M.F. Husain, whose faceless Mother
Teresa pictures became icons, is presented side by side with his close friends,
the Hindu Krishnen Khanna, the Parsee Jehangir Sabavala, the Hindu artists
Satish Gujral, V. Nageshkar, Anjolie Menon, Ramchandran and the Sikh sisters
Amrita and Rabindra Kaur Singh. The Who is Who of Indian art history is
presented from a new angle. Christian artists include the late F.N. Souza, who
simultaneously hated and loved his Christian childhood God, and artists like
A.D. Thomas, Angela Trindade, A. Fonesca, V. Masoji, F. Wesley (both by Naomi
Wray), C.J. Anthony Doss, Alphonso Doss, S. Raj, J. Sahi, L. D’Souza-Krone,
Sister Clair etc., all who stand for the attempt to incorporate the Christian
gospel into the Indian culture. This original research includes many young
talents too. An extensive Bibliography, Glossary and Index make this book an
indispensable reference source for many years to come. Every library and
individuals interested in intercultural encounter between India and the West in
art, intercultural theology, dialogue and history must have this book.
Anand Amaldass SJ studied
Philosophy and Catholic Theology. He took a Master’s degree in Sanskrit and a
Ph. D. from the University of Madras in 1981. Since 1984, he is teaching at
Satya Nilayam Jesuit Faculty of
Philosophy in Chennai, now part of the Loyola (Autonomous) College, Chennai. He
was Dean of the Faculty and Director of the Research Institute for Philosophy
and Sanskrit. Since his post-doctoral studies at the Vienna University, Austria
in 1982-1984, he has taught nearly every year as a visiting professor in
Frankfurt/Germany 2012. He has also been visiting faculty at the Wurzburg
University, Germany and the Gregorian University in Rome. His area of research
includes Indian philosophy and religion, aesthetics and interfaith dialogue .
More than 40 books have been written or edited by him including a publication
on the Dhvani theory in Indian Aesthetics (Vienna, Austria, 1984). He has also
published around 100 articles in English and in Indian books and journals.
Gudrun Lowner studied
Protestant Theology and comparitive religion in Bochum, Wuppertal, Geneva and
Heidelberg. Her Ph. D. was from Heildelberg University in 1997 after intensive
field studies in Sri Lanka. Her thesis has the title Religion and Development
in Sri Lanka. Her studies were supported by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation in
Cologne, Germany. In 2008 she received the Order of Merit of the Federal
Republic of Germany for her academic and social work in India. After working on
the staff of the Protestant University of Wuppertal, Germany, she is now
working in Bangalore. Her areas of research include Buddhism, India and art.
ISBN 978-81-7304-945-3 2012 428p.
Rs.4000/Pounds 95
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