INDIA. 309 



The size of the stones, the cutting, placing ihera in posi- 

 tion, the fitting them together with such accuracy that 

 ccincnt of any kind was superfluous, in other instances 

 the fitting together with metallic substances, are lost 

 arts. The designs of the mosaics, the sculpturing and 

 the wood carvings, the inlaid work are marvels of skill, 

 patience and perseverehce. The ancient artist and arti- 

 san made use of noble material on which to stamp indel- 

 ibly the proofs of his skill. In short, nature supplies the 

 material, art works on it. 



"Art can effect nothing without material, yet 

 there is an inherent value in material, though, un- 

 touched by the art of man. Perfection of art is 

 superior to the best material." — Quintilianus. 



Symmetry was above everything else the object of the 

 ancient architecture, mosaics, columns and arches were 

 the details in carrying out his designs. The two pieces 

 of architecture and design that impressed me most were 

 the royal tomb, Taj Mahal at Agra and the Cave 

 Temple in Elephanta Island near Bombay, the former 

 noted for its exquisite beauty, the latter for its great 

 age and wonderful mural statues, cut out of the hard 

 rock, to which allusion will again be made further on. 



It is a source of great regret that the influential and 

 rich natives take so little interest in the preservation 

 and maintenance of their works of art, which after all, 

 are the great magnets that attract thousands of visitors 

 to India annually. Palaces and palatial residences are 

 now being built in imitation of what they have seen 

 abroad. Painters from Italy and France do the dec- 

 orating. Plush and silk covered furniture is brought 

 from Europe, and the old beautifully carved chairs, 

 tables and other articles of furniture are stored away, 

 sold for a song or given away to make room for things 

 that are not adapted to the climate and that can make 

 no pretention to art. It is very fortunate that Lord 

 Curzon has taken the necessary steps to preserve Indian 

 art by the erection of a great museum of art in Calcutta, 

 in blessed memory of the late Empress Victoria, where 



