Coomaraswamy, Ananda Kentish

ANANDA K. COOMARASWAMY

Born: 22-8-1877                 Died: 9-9-1947
(Ceylon) (USA)       

COOMARASWAMY, ANANDA KENTISH D. Sc.(London), F. L. S., F. G. S., M. R. A. S.; Fellow for Research in Indian, Persian and Muhammadan Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass.; Fellow of University College, London; VIce-President, Indian Society, London; Hon. Correspondent, Archaeological Survey of India, Vrienden cler aziatische Kunst, The Hague, Gesellschaft fur Asiaticshe Kunst, Berlin, Coimbra Institute, Hon. Mem., Bhandarkar Oriental Research Inst., Poona, etc., son of late Sir Mutu Coomaraswamy, Ceylon: Born 22nd Aug. 1877; m. Dona Luisa Runstein; one son Educ.; Wycliffe College, Stonehouse, Glos; U.C., London. Director Mineralogical Survey of Ceylon, 1903-6; initiated movement for National Education, teaching of vernaculars in all schools, and revival of Indian culture; Pres. Ceylon Social Reform Society with these objects; member Ceylon Univ. Association; assisted to found India Society, 1910; in charge of Art Section at United Provinces Exhibition, 1910-11; writes and lectures on the history of Indian art, and general aesthetic, symbolism, and metaphysics. Publications: Reports on the Geology of Ceylon, 1903-6; Voluspa; Mediaeval Sinhalese Art; The Indian Craftsman; Essays in National Idealism; Art and Swadeshi; Burning and Melting (with Y. Daud ); Selected Examples of Indian Art; Indian Drawings, 2 vols.; Viswakarma; Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists (with Sister Nivedita ); Arts and Crafts of India and Ceylon (also French Edition); Vidyapati (with A. Sen); The Taking of Toll; Rajput Painting; Buddha and the Gospel of Buddhism; The Mirror of Gesture (with G. K. Duggirala); The Dance of Siva (also French edition); Portfolio of Indian Art (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston); Catalogue of the Indian collections in the Museum of Arts, Boston; An Introduction to Indian Art; Pour comprendre l'art hindoue; History of Indian and Indonesian Art (also German edition), Yaksas; Les miniatures orientales de la Collection Goloubew; A New Approach to the Vedas; The Transformation of Nature in Art; Elements of Buddhist Iconography; La Sculpture de Bodhgaya; Spiritual Authority and Temporal Power, the early Indian theory of government, 1942; Hinduism and Buddhism, 1943; Why Exhibit Works of Art, 1943; Figures of Speech or Figures of Thought, 1945; Religious Basis of the Forms of Indian Society, 1946; Am I my Brother’s Keeper?, 1947; Articles in leading art journals and in Encyclopaedia Britannica. Recreations: gardening, books. Address: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass., U. S. A.; 649 South Street, Needham, Mass.
(Died 9th Sept. 1947)