Mount Abu, Dilwara shrine (Vimala's Temple), c. 10th cent.
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Fergusson, James
Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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Abstract
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Final baroque culmination of the Gujarat style. Constructed entirely of white marble, the interior of the pillared hall reveals a dome rising in many concentric circles supported on a circular arcade of dwarf pillars joined by cusped arches. The dome culminates in a richly carved pendant, like a stalactite hung in the centre of the vault. Placed athwart the lower rings of the dome are brackets with representations of Jain goddesses of wisdom. In their semi-detached projection they appear like struts actually upholding the cupola. Any real sense of architectural construction is lost beneath the intricacy of the carving and the profuseness of detail. The very texture of the stone is destroyed by the elaborate fretting, but pearly radiance reflected from what seems like a huge and weightless marble flower (Rowland, p. 179)
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Archives Series
Basham Collection
Date created
1910
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This item is provided for research purposes. Contact the Australian National University Archives at butlin.archives@anu.edu.au for permission to use.
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