and by elongating its main body upwards. Besides, plastic ornamentation was
added to the structure of the stupa. All this provided the stupa effective and
colourful appearance.
Pre– Gupta Schools of Art
School of Area/Region Nature Patrons Medium Themes
Art
Gandhara N.W. India Hybrid; Indo Indo-Greeks Black Stone Mahayana
Greek & Kushans Buddhism
Mathura Agra & Indigenous; Ganarajyas & Red Hinduism,
Mathura Bharhut & Sanchi Kushans Sandstone Buddhism &
Jainism
Amaravati Lower Indigenous; Satvahanas & Marble & Mahayana
Krishna Nagarjuna- Ikshvakus Limestone Buddism
Valley Konda
The main theme of Gandhara school can be said to be the new form of
Buddhism, viz. Mahayanism, and its most important contribution was the
evolution of an image of the Buddha.