This presents a selection of her influential essays, along with a biographical essay.

The writings collected here emphasize the cultural and symbolic values of Indian art. The first section discusses the social and religious contexts of art. This is followed by essays on various forms of ritual art. The section entitled "The Subtle Body" is derived from her term for the form that underlies concrete shapes; it includes studies of literary and visual symbolism. Further essays concentrate on formal and technical aspects of temple structure and painting in the context of their symbolic meaning. Over 150 illustrations, many of them prepared especially for this volume, provide a vital visual dimension to her writings. Also included is Joseph Dye's comprehensive bibliography of her work.

 

BARBARA STOLER MILLER, herself a scholar of Indian literature and art who studied with Stella Kramrisch at the University of Pennsylvania, was Professor of Oriental Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University. Among her published works are Love Song of the Dark Lord: Jayadeva's Gitagovinda. She passed away in 1993.