Christian Themes in Indian Art

Christian Themes in Indian Art
by Anand Amaladass
Adopted by
Anna H. Janis
on November 14, 2017
Cover of Christian Themes in Indian Art

Christian themes in Indian art : from the Mogul times till today

By Anand Amaladass. New Delhi: Manohar Publishers & Distributors, 2012.

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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