MUSEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE MATHURA SCHOOL OF ART

The Mathura School of Art is one of the vibrant chapters of Indian Art history, that is celebrated for its distinctive red sandstone sculptures and a blend of indigenous and foreign elements. The Indian Museum holds a remarkable collection, belonging to the Buddhist, Jain and Brahminical traditions. Despite of its cultural significance, the sculptures are dispersed across the museum, making it difficult for the visitors to appreciate their shared story. This study not only enumerates the importance of the art specimens from this school, through historical studies but also a visitor-authority survey to propose a dedicated gallery to the Mathura sculptures. The findings highlight support for this initiative, emphasizing on the potentials for heritage studies, academic interpretations and visitor engagement towards this art form.