Christian Themes in Indian Art
Christian themes in Indian art : from the Mogul times till today
Although only about two percent of the population of India is Christian, it is common to find both Christian and non-Christian Indian artists who have used Christian themes in their art. The beginnings of Christianity in India are not well known but tradition has it that the apostle Thomas founded a number of churches in Kerala in 52 AD. Vasco da Gama (1469-1524), the Portuguese explorer, landed in Calicut in 1498 and by 1542 the Roman Catholic missionary Francis Xavier (1506-1552) had reached Goa. These contacts with the west brought examples of European art into the Indian subcontinent. Later, Indian artists associated with the Bengal Renaissance (1895-1905) also included Christian themes in their works, as did 20th century artists such as Krishen Khanna, a Hindu artist, and Maqbool Husain, a Muslim artist. The rich and varied nature of Christian imagery in India’s art makes this publication a true feast for the eyes as well as a window into the multi-cultural milieu that is India and its people.
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