The Stucco Art of Ancient and Medieval Bengal

Like terracotta art, stone and bronze sculptures, stucco art has also occupied a significant place in Indian art since ancient times. Stucco art became popular in Bengal during the post-Gupta and early Medieval period, for decorating Buddhist Vihāras and Hindu temples, and this tradition continued over time. The study of Stucco art of Bengal has been overlooked in the discussion of art centres in the past few decades, so this article will mainly focus on the chronological history of stucco art of Bengal. Region wise characteristics of this art will be discussed and analysed based on several primary and secondary sources and fieldwork-based data collections. The observation gives the impression that the various experiments by the artists of Bengal during the early Medieval period resulted in the development of a distinctive style of stucco art, which was different from the contemporary popular terracotta art. In some cases, stucco art was used instead of terracotta art, which is a classic example of the increasing demand for art. This article will provide a comprehensive discussion of stucco art in Bengal.