Sculpture MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Sculpture - Download Free PDF

Key Points

• Amrita Sher-Gil was one of the most prominent Indian painters of the 20th century.
• She is often referred to as India’s Frida Kahlo due to her modernist and avant-garde style.
• Her works are heavily inspired by both European art and Indian culture, reflecting a unique blend of the two.
• Some of her famous paintings include "Three Girls," "Bride's Toilet," and "Village Scene."

The correct answer is Jalore.

Key Points

• The tomb of Ismaili saint Malik Shah 
  • In the fort of Jalore, the tomb of Ismail saint Malik Shah is located.
  • The Islamic Mosques of Jalore fort.
  • The Kila Masjid (Fort Mosque) within the fort is also noteworthy as they demonstrate the widespread influence of the architectural decorations associated with the Gujarati styles of the period (i.e. late 16th century).
  • This is because it was built by destroying the existing Hindu temple.
  • Another shrine in the fort is that of Saint Rehmad Ali Baba. Near the main gate.

Additional Information

Jalore Fort 

• Jalore Fort is one of the nine castles of the Maru, under the Paramaras in the 10th century.
• It is one of the most famous and impressive forts in the state and has been known through history as the Sonagir or the "golden mount".

The correct answer is Ram Singh.

Key Points

• Blue Pottery is a traditional craft that originated in Persia and was brought to India.
• It is known for its eye-catching blue dye, derived from cobalt oxide.
• The craft involves a unique technique of applying the blue glaze to the pottery.
• Ram Singh played a crucial role in promoting and developing Blue Pottery in Rajasthan.
• Under his reign, Blue Pottery saw significant advancements in terms of design and popularity.

Additional Information

• History of Blue Pottery
  • Blue Pottery was introduced in Rajasthan in the 19th century.
  • It was initially used for decorative tiles in palaces and temples.
• Techniques
  • The process includes mixing quartz powder, glass, Multani mitti (Fuller's Earth), borax, gum, and water.
  • The mixture is molded into shapes and then coated with a blue glaze before firing.
• Modern Day Blue Pottery
  • Today, Blue Pottery is a popular art form and a significant part of Rajasthan's cultural heritage.
  • It includes a variety of products such as tiles, vases, plates, and decorative items.
  • Efforts are being made to revive and sustain this traditional craft through various initiatives and workshops.

The correct answer is Greek Art.

Key Points

• The Gandharan style of art is a unique blend of Greek and Indian artistic elements.
• It developed during the Kushan Empire (1st to 5th centuries CE) in the region of Gandhara, which is modern-day north-western Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan.
• Greek influence in Gandharan art is evident in the realistic representation of human figures and the use of drapery styles similar to those found in Greek sculptures.
• Many Gandharan sculptures depict Buddhist subjects but are crafted in the style of Greek art, showing a fusion of cultural influences.
• The Gandharan style is also known for its use of stucco, stone, and terracotta in creating intricate and detailed sculptures.

Additional Information

• Gandhara Region:
  • Gandhara was an ancient region located in what is today Pakistan and Afghanistan.
  • It was a major center of cultural exchange and a melting pot of various influences, including Greek, Persian, Indian, and Central Asian.
• Kushan Empire:
  • The Kushan Empire played a significant role in the development of the Gandharan style of art.
  • Under the rule of the Kushans, especially King Kanishka, the region saw a flourishing of art and culture.
• Buddhist Iconography:
  • Gandharan art is well known for its Buddhist iconography, including depictions of the Buddha and bodhisattvas.
  • This style contributed to the spread of Buddhist art and culture throughout Asia.
• Greek Influence:
  • The influence of Greek art is seen in the realistic portrayal of human figures, use of perspective, and detailed drapery in Gandharan sculptures.
  • Elements such as curly hair, toga-like robes, and serene facial expressions are characteristic features borrowed from Greek art.
• Materials and Techniques:
  • Common materials used in Gandharan art include schist, stucco, and terracotta.
  • Techniques included carving, molding, and painting, which were employed to create both statues and reliefs.

The correct answer is Rice husk and donkey dung.

Key Points

• Molela art is a traditional terracotta craft practiced in Molela village of Rajasthan, India, primarily known for creating votive figurines and plaques of deities.
• To strengthen and harden the clay, artisans add rice husk and donkey dung as binding agents during the preparation of the clay mixture.
• Rice husk provides fiber reinforcement to the clay, improving its structural integrity and reducing cracks during drying and firing.
• Donkey dung acts as a natural binding material, enhancing the plasticity and workability of the clay used in Molela art.
• The unique combination of these materials helps the terracotta idols withstand wear and maintain durability over time.

Additional Information

• Terracotta Craft: Terracotta refers to clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic used in sculpture and pottery. It is derived from the Italian word "terra cotta," meaning "baked earth."
• Binding Materials in Clay: Natural fibers like rice husk, straw, or dung are often used in traditional pottery to reinforce the clay and prevent cracking during firing.
• Drying and Firing Process: Molela terracotta products undergo a drying process in the sun followed by firing in a kiln to achieve hardness and durability.
• Votive Figurines: These are small sculptures created as offerings to deities, often depicting Hindu gods and goddesses. They are traditionally used for religious purposes.
• Regional Significance: Molela art has cultural importance in Rajasthan, where devotees use these terracotta creations for worship in temples and homes.

The correct answer is Ghora Katora.

Important Points

• Bihar CM Nitish Kumar unveiled a 70 ft tall statue of Lord Buddha at Rajgir in Nalanda district on November 25, 2018.
• The statue has been installed above a 16 m radius pedestal in the middle of the lake Ghora katora.
• It has been made from cubic foot pink stone.
• Ghora katora lake is a natural lake surrounded by five hills.
• No petrol and diesel vehicles are allowed to ply there.

The correct answer is the Chola ruler.

About Chola ruler:

• The Chola Dynasty was founded by the Vijayalaya in the 8th century. This dynasty was one of the longest-ruling dynasties in south India. They ruled from 848-1279 BCE century.
• The Heartland of the Cholas was situated on the banks of Kaveri River, but they ruled a significantly from the latter half of the 9th Century till the beginning of the 13th Century.
• The Chola dynasty emerged under the Rajaraja Chola 1 and his successors like Rajadhiraja Chola, Virarajendra Chola, Rajendra Chola 2, and Kulothunga Chola I, the dynasty became an Economic, Cultural Power, and  Military, in South Asia and some parts of South-East Asia.
• During the Period of 1010–1153, the Chola territories extended from the Islands of the Maldives in the South to as far in the north as the banks of the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh.
• Their Patronage of Tamil Literature and their zealous feeling towards making the building of temples has resulted in some great works of Tamil literature and Temple Architecture.

About Lord Shiva Dancing statue:

• The famous Nataraja Shiva Dance and the Bronze Sculpture, of the Natatraj of the Chola period,
• It is one of the Most Significant Religious Sculptures and Beholding the stature even today itself. The statue was made with the Lost Wax technique, the Chola period Bronzes bring together in the form of art of Metallurgy and the Aesthetics of the sacred statue.
• The Artwork and Pose are elaborated in many Hindu texts such as the Uttarakamika and Anshumadbhed Agama, the Dance form featured in all the Major Hindu Temples of Shaivism.
• As the Lord of Dance, Nataraja, Shiva performs the Ananda Tandava (Dance of Bliss), the dance shows the three things in which the Universe is Created, Maintained, and Destroyed. Symbolism in art has been various historians interpreted by the Chola era.

Image of Natraja Dance:

The correct answer is Greece.

Key Points

• Gandhara art, a style of Buddhist visual art that developed in what is now northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan between the 1st century BCE and the 7th century CE.
• The style, of Greco-Roman origin, seems to have flourished largely during the Kushan dynasty and was contemporaneous with an important but dissimilar school of Kushan art at Mathura (Uttar Pradesh, India).
• The Gandhara school incorporated many motifs and techniques from classical Roman art, including vine scrolls, cherubs bearing garlands, tritons, and centaurs. The basic iconography, however, remained Indian.

Additional Information 

• Greece, the southernmost of the countries of the Balkan Peninsula.
  • Greece is bordered to the east by the Aegean sea, to the south by the mediterranean sea, and to the west by the Ionian Sea.
• Italy, a country of south-central Europe, occupying a peninsula that juts deep into the mediterranean sea.
  • The capital is Rome, one of the oldest of the world’s great cities.
• Hungary, Hungarian magyarország, landlocked country of central Europe.
  • The capital is Budapest.
    • Budapest is situated on both banks of the Danube (Hungarian: Duna) River.
• Belgium, country of northwestern Europe. It is one of the smallest and most densely populated European countries.
  • Belgium today is one of the most heavily industrialized and urbanized countries in Europe.
  • Belgium It is a member of the Benelux economic union, the European Union (EU), and the North Atlantic treaty organization (NATO)—organizations that all have headquarters in or near the capital city of Brussels.

The correct answer is Ellora Caves.

Key Points

Ravana shaking Mount Kailasa:

• It is a panel at the Ellora caves. So, option 2 is correct.
• In this remarkable scene, the quivering of the mountain can be felt.
• Parvati is shown greatly agitated, turning to Shiva, grasping his hand in fear while her maid takes to flight but the Great God is unmoved and holds on fast, pressing down the mountain with his foot.
• The lower half of the composition exhibits Ravana exerting all the force of his twenty arms against the mountain.

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The correct answer is Rampurva, Bihar.

Key Points

The Bull capital of Ashoka:

• It is from Rampurva, Bihar.
• It belongs to the third century B.C.
• It is a mixture of Persian and Indian elements.
• The lotus capital is entirely formalistic.
• The motifs on the abacus are beautiful decorative elements like the rosette, palmette, and the acanthus ornaments, none of them is Indian.
• The crowning element of the bull capital, that is the bull proper, is a masterpiece of Indian craftsmanship, showing a humped bull, well modelled, with its soft flesh beautifully represented, with its strong legs, sensitive nostrils, and the ears cocked as if it were listening.

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The correct answer is Kushana.

Important Points

• Gandhara attained its height from the 1st century to the 5th century under the Buddhist Kushan Kings.
• A unique style of Buddhist sculpture called Gandhara art developed in ancient times in the Gandhara region of the Indian subcontinent.
• This art and culture associated with the Greco-Roman style of art.
  • Gandhara art is also known as the Graeco-Buddhist School of art.
• Grey Sandstone was used in the Gandhara School of Art for making images.

Key Points

• Taxila was a famous site of Gandhara art.
  • Ancient Taxila was historically referred to as Takshashila in Sanskrit, and Takkasila in Pali.
• The Gandhara grave culture is also called Swat culture.
• Bamiyan Buddha is an example of the Gandhara School of Art.
• The Standing Buddha’s of Sravasti, Sarnath, and Kausambhi belongs to Mathura School of Arts.
• 4 hand gestures of Buddha were depicted from the Gandhara School of Art.

• In the Amravati school of art white marble is used and the themes were: Buddha’s life and Jatakas tales and the curly hairs of Buddha are a feature that is influenced by the Greeks.

The correct answer is Five.

Important Points

• Five Jantar Mantar is located in New Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura, and Varanasi, all were completed between 1724 and 1735.
• Jantar Mantar is a phenomenal piece of architecture in the form of a sundial.
  • It is one of the world's most accurate pre-modern observatories and attests to eighteenth-century efforts to improve understanding of planetary and other cosmic movements.

Additional Information

• Sawai Jai Singh II, the remarkable Monarch of Jaipur and Amber, was a mathematician, an astronomer, and a town planner par excellence.

The correct answer is Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• The Khajuraho monuments are located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, in the Chatarpur district.
• The temples are located near a small town also known as Khajuraho, with a population of about 24,481 people (2011 Census).
• The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu temples and Jain temples in the Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh.
• They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temples are famous for their nagara-style architecture.
• The city of the temples is famous for the Khajuraho Temples built with folded stones all over the world.
• Chandela​ Kings built the temples at their capital in Khajuraho.
• Khajuraho are a group of 85 temples built between AD 900 and 1130. However, at present only 25 are surviving. It is presumed that Every Chandela ruler had a temple built.
• Nannuk was the founder of the Chandella dynasty and Khajuraho.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Amravati school of art.

Important Points

• The Vengi region in Andhra Pradesh has many stupas, in Jaggayyapeta, Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda, Bhattiprolu, Goli, etc.
• Amaravati School of Art Developed during the Satavahana period.
  • It is fully indigenous in nature.
  • The dome is covered with relief stupa sculptural slabs.
  • Events from Buddha’s life and Jataka tales are depicted.
  • The sculptures have intense emotions.
  • The figures are slender and show a lot of movement. The bodies are shown with 3 bents (tribhanga). (Asked in UPSC prelims)

Additional Information

• Gandhara art :
  • Gandhara art form influenced Indo-Greek elements such as Bactria and Parthia traditions besides the local Gandhara tradition.
    • The Buddha images here have Hellenistic features.
    • The Buddha here is more muscular.
    • The sculptures are heavily polished with rich carvings.
    • The hair is curly and the lobes of the ears are elongated.
    • The sculptures were initially made of stone and later on stucco was also used.
• The Mathura art tradition :
  • The Buddha images in the Mathura school are modeled on the earlier Yaksha images.
  • Mathura art form also has some images of the Shaiva and Vaishnava faiths but images of the Buddha are numerous.
  • The sculptures are generally made of red sandstone.
  • In the 3rd century, the fleshiness in sculptures reduced.
  • Movement is shown by increasing the distance between the legs and bending of the body. 
  • Example: Stupa sculpture at Sanghol, Punjab.
     

The correct answer is  Lord Shiva.

Key Points

• The Elephanta Caves are a group of cave temples mostly honouring Shiva, a Hindu deity.
• They are located on Elephanta Island, also known as Gharapuri, in Mumbai Harbour.
• The island, which is located about two kilometres west of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, is made up of two Buddhist caves with water tanks, a few stupa mounds from the second century BCE, and five Hindu caves.
• Rock-cut stone sculptures, the majority of which are in high relief, may be seen at the Elephanta Caves and display a synthesis of Buddhist and Hindu concepts and iconography.
• The strong basalt rock was used to carve out the caves.
• There are legends that suggest that the great warrior Prince of the Chalukya Dynasty - Pulkesin ll built the Lord Shiva shrine, to celebrate his victory.
• Trimurti Sadasiva is the main sculpture inside the Elephanta Caves.
• The image, 20 ft in height, is that of the three-headed Lord, representing Panchamukha (five-headed) Shiva.
• At  Elephanta Caves, Lord Shiva is also depicted as Yogisvara - Lord of Yogis, seated on a lotus, and as Shiva Nataraja, the many-armed cosmic dancer. 
• An amazing dance festival is held at Elephanta Island every February, hosted by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).