Pattern and Ornament in the Arts of India

Henry Wilson

An illuminating survey of Indian pattern and ornament as expressed in its architecture.

The richness of the arts of India is overwhelming, and perhaps most noticeably so in its architecture. This innovative volume reveals the exquisite detail of the decorative compositions, their finesse, precision, and creativity. It also highlights the skill, patience, and pictorial imagination of the many thousands of craftsmen and their patrons.

The timeline runs for almost two thousand years, from the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi of the first century BC/AD to Rajput palace interiors of c. 1900. Hundreds of atmospheric photographs are juxtaposed with graphic transpositions of the designs, patterns, and ornamentation to reveal the nature of the architectural detail, where stone, wood, mirror work, and plaster are transformed into masterworks of decorative art.

Contributors

Henry Wilson

Author

Henry Wilson is well known as a photographer of architecture and interiors, with a special interest in India. His books include India Contemporary and Pattern and Ornament in the Arts of India, and he is a frequent contributor to The World of Interiors, Architectural Digest, and other design magazines. He lives in London.