Contents: Preface. 1. Historical outline. 2. Early icons and Mourya art. 3. Sunga art. 4. Bharut stupa. 5. Sanchi. 6. Gandhara school. 7. Mathura school (Kushan). 8. Amaravati. 9. Gupta art. Bibliography. Index.

"The purpose of this little book is to introduce classical Indian sculpture, and the examples shown have been selected chiefly because of their sculptural qualities. The book is too small to include detailed information, but the short bibliography will perhaps be useful to the reader for further study.

In spite of recent excavations, the dating of the various schools cannot be regarded as final. The dates, particularly of Gandhara, Kushan, Mathura and Amaravati are controversial. Further excavation and discoveries may change the dates usually accepted for the Kushan and Gandhara periods." (jacket)