1889.] V. A. Smith — Grceco-Boman influence on Ancient India. 213 



(3). None of the Romano-Buddhist sculptures are earlier than 

 200 A. D., or later than 450 A. D. The best specimens belong to the 

 period A. D. 200—350. 



(4). Romano-Buddhist sculpture shows some affinity with the style 

 of decoration employed on the great temples at Baalbec and Palmyra in 

 the second and third centuries of the Christian era, but its closest rela- 

 tionship, (and the connection is very close indeed) is with the Roman 

 Christian sculpture of the period A. D. 250 — 450, as seen in the Cata- 

 combs. 



Chapter VI. The Indian Schools of Painting. 



Colour was used to enhance the effect of sculpture both in Gan- 

 dhara and at Amaravati, and it is highly probable that wall paintings 

 also existed in Gandhara. No specimen of such painting, however, has 

 yec been discovered, and the ancient Indian schools of painting are at 

 present known only from the remains of their works in the caves of 

 Western India. 



Considerable fragments of large and elaborate pictures on plaster 

 still exist at Ajanta in the Nizam's Dominions, and at Bagh in the south 

 of Malwa. 



The criticisms of Messrs. Fergusson and Griffiths on these works 

 are quoted, and the author expresses his belief that pictures of such 

 considerable merit must have been produced under the influence of 

 Western art. The natives of India have always shown an incapacity for 

 the artistic treatment of the human form, except during the time when 

 Hellenistic and Roman influence was potent. 



Chapter VII. The Art of Coinage in India. 



Concerning the origin of the art of coinage in India the author 

 expresses the opinion that, though all ancient Indian coinages with the 

 slightest pretensions to artistic merit are ultimately of Greek origin, yet 

 the idea of coining money, and a knowledge of the simple mechanical 

 processes necessary for the production of rude coins originated indepen- 

 dently in India, or, at the least, were not borrowed from the Greeks. 



The approximate date at which money struck to a definite standard 

 of weight was first minted in India cannot be determined. 



The most primitive pieces are blanks of silver, struck to the standard 

 of 32 ratis, 58| grains. Such pieces, and some of the uninscribed punch-] 

 marked coins, afford no indication of age. Sir A. Cunningham's belief 

 that they are as old as B. C. 1,000, does not appear to rest on evidence. 



The author holds that it would be impossible to prove that any 

 given extant piece is older than the time of Alexander the Great, though 



