Preface

iv
of the nineteenth century. Such study in history of art and archaeology
is, however, rather handicapped, since the same is primarily based on
extensive factual knowledge of the material available in published
records including the catalogues or reports on the collection of different
museums or research papers contributed by scholars. It is only through
a study of these sources, that we can hope to gradually fill in the gaps of
our knowledge of the course of development which a particular branch of
art pursued. Unfortunately, however, the published records (on the
antiquities of the earlier period having association with foreign influence)
collected from different areas (India and outside) are not much available
in Indian libraries. Therefore, a researcher always feels unhappy with a
topic related to foreign influence on Indian art, especially of early times.
Moreover, owing to the very nature of the subject, we have been
compelled to be mostly dependant throughout upon the works of others,
as stated above, since visit to the archaeological sites from where the
materials were found and the foreign museums in which the artifacts are
housed, has seldom been possible. Our debt to these archaeologists and
art historians will be apparent to every reader. Many of the
interpretations given are based on the works of the previous writers; in
some cases, however, we have ventured to draw attention to the
shortcomings in reports or in interpretations and also offer our humble
explanations. As for example, we may refer to our discussion on page