Professor R Nath

The Art of CHANDERI Professor R Nath

This work studies the medieval monuments of Chanderi stylistically, probably, for the first time. Chanderi is situated in a rugged and difficult terrain in the interior of Madhya Pradesh and is not easily accessible. Historians of medieval Indian Art have generally ignored study of its monuments: mosques, tombs, palaces, gateways, tanks, baolis and other public works. The Architecture of these 15th century relics constitutes a style of its own. It has such distinctive characteristics as an emphatic ogee, purely ornamental strut, symbolic depiction of '??rd?la', geometrical jalies, lotus medallions in relief and structural contrivances, some of which are ingenious and unique. This style is different in spirit and expression from the Art of Mandu, to which it is erroneously attached as a branch. A study of the evolutionary process and the constructive inspirations which have gone into its making shows, on the other hand, that it has drawn on the Art of Gujarat more than Mandu. Contemporary Architecture of Jaunpur is almost exclusively of mosques while purely commemorative edifices are not there at Mandu. Chanderi's art is versatile, creative and ingenious. It introduced epoch-making innovation, a study of which would be immensely useful for understanding the main trends and currents of Medieval art of India. It was first published in 1979 and this is its second, revised, corrected and updated edition