Patronage in Art in Ancient India

Abstract

The term ‘Patron’ is subject to peculiar paradoxes, in Ancient Rome it denoted someone high status in society, who provided security to less powerful perhaps in exchange of services. In Medieval Europe, the term was related with various duties of Church. By 16thC the term began to be adjoined with various artistic activities.

Romila Thapar in Cultural Transaction and Early India defines patronage “as wealth given by a person of superior status to an artist to enable him/her to produce art”.Patronage is often referred to as an exchange,this can be in the form of tangible and intangible(status & legitimacy) goods. Ashok is prominent when it comes to donating , constructing various stupas , he is said to have built 84000 stupas , ashokavadana talks about it also Hsuan-tsang refers to Ashok constructing various buddhist stupas and monasteries.