sculpture

Rectangular stone panel with high relief erotic carving: 6 bays divided by 5 pillars with total of 8 figures. Figures grouped as 3 single (2 female, other indistinct) alternating with 3 pairs, each male and female. Frieze above or plantlike motifs, very broken and incomplete. Wilson's journals suggest that he picked up this piece (along with another ?) at an ancient Hindu temple at Cootub Minar, considered to be earlier than Islamic column erected at this place, but did not like to admit to it as he considered it obscene.

'After a ride of 2 miles we reached the famous Cootub Minar, a stupendous column erected by Shumsadeen, one of the Ghazi family, over his preceptor Khoaje Cuttubadeen, and also to perpetuate the triumph of Islam over Brahminical faith, as it is raised upon the ruins of a Hindoo temple whose sculptures are lying scattered about, and exhibiting some of the most indecent and unnatural scenes that can well be imagined. I possessed myself of two beastly relics of Hindoo worship from this place, which may add to my curiosities, but will form no part of my ornamental collection.' Quotation from the journals of Dr Robert Wilson (1787-1871).

This small sandstone panel is part of a high-relief frieze that comes from a Hindu temple at Cootub Minar in India. Dr Robert Wilson, a traveller who was making a tour of Asia in the period between 1819-22, visited the sculpted column erected over the preceptor, Khoaje, by Shumasadeen, one of the Ghazi family. The column also commemorated the triumph of Islam over the Brahminical faith, as it was placed over the remains of a Hindu temple. Wilson picked up the sculptural panel from the ruins of the temple, but did not like to exhibit it subsequently because of the subject matter. He wrote that he considered it 'beastly'. The sculpture is an erotic carving. There are nine figures in total, in six niches flanked by pillars. The single female figures, face on, alternate with the pairs, each female and male in profile and in erotic poses, although the pair at the end are so damaged that it is difficult to make out the second figure. The carving of the figures is simple, with fine details of jewellery and hair. Often the figure's leg that is towards the wall is not shaped. 2ND VIEW: This is a detail from a panel of an erotic carving from a Hindu temple. It is one of the alternating niches, in which is a male and a female in an erotic pose. The carving of the figures is simple, but there is fine detailing of the hair and jewelley. The other niches with two figures show a great similarity in the positioning of the figures, so that the limbs make a repeating pattern, even though the detail is different. This type of carving is well known from Hindu temples. The panel appears to have a repeating pattern, suggesting that it is part of a frieze, and that the subject matter is part of a recognised iconography.

Wilson,Robert

Dates: Early: Late: 1822 Period: pre.Islamic ?

Hindu

stone sandstone

Dimensions: L: 650 mm H: 300 mm

This small sandstone panel is part of a high-relief frieze that comes from a Hindu temple at Cootub Minar in India. Dr Robert Wilson, a traveller who was making a tour of Asia in the period between 1819-22, visited the sculpted column erected over the preceptor, Khoaje, by Shumasadeen, one of the Ghazi family. The column also commemorated the triumph of Islam over the Brahminical faith, as it was placed over the remains of a Hindu temple. Wilson picked up the sculptural panel from the ruins of the temple, but did not like to exhibit it subsequently because of the subject matter. He wrote that he considered it 'beastly'. The sculpture is an erotic carving. There are nine figures in total, in six niches flanked by pillars. The single female figures, face on, alternate with the pairs, each female and male in profile and in erotic poses, although the pair at the end are so damaged that it is difficult to make out the second figure. The carving of the figures is simple, with fine details of jewellery and hair. Often the figure's leg that is towards the wall is not shaped. 2ND VIEW: This is a detail from a panel of an erotic carving from a Hindu temple. It is one of the alternating niches, in which is a male and a female in an erotic pose. The carving of the figures is simple, but there is fine detailing of the hair and jewelley. The other niches with two figures show a great similarity in the positioning of the figures, so that the limbs make a repeating pattern, even though the detail is different. This type of carving is well known from Hindu temples. The panel appears to have a repeating pattern, suggesting that it is part of a frieze, and that the subject matter is part of a recognised iconography.