These lavishly illustrated books are the first and second in a series of three cataloguing the Asian art collection at the Norton Simon Museum. Each work of art is fully illustrated and discussed, and both volumes include substantial introductions that shed light on the aesthetic and metaphysical underpinnings of these masterpieces. Volume 1 focuses on sculptures from the Indian subcontinent, except those from the Himalayas. Representing almost all schools of Indian sculptural art and three major religions--Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism--the works span two millennia, from the second century B.C.E. to the eighteenth century C.E.

The collection's many highlights include a particularly fine assemblage of South Indian bronzes of the Chola period. Volume 2 concentrates on sculptures and paintings from the Indian states of Jammu, Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh, as well as the countries of Nepal, Tibet, and China. These works date from the fifth to the twentieth century. The collection's many highlights include Buddhist bronzes from Nepal, folk bronzes from Himachal Pradesh, and thankas and metalwork from Tibet. Pratapaditya Pal is an internationally recognized authority on the art of South and Southeast Asia and is Fellow for Research at the Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, California. Published in association with the Norton Simon Art Foundation Published in association with the Norton Simon Art Foundation.