2025-05-12 Mon

The government Museum, Mathura, also known as Mathura Museum, is a prominent archaeological museum situated in the city of Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Established in 1874 by Sir F. S. Growse, who served as the collector of the Mathura district, the museum has undergone several name changes throughout its history. Initially titled the Curzon Museum of Archaeology, it was later referred to as the Archaeology Museum, Mathura, before acquiring its current name.

The museum is particularly celebrated for its extensive Collection of ancient sculptures originating from the Mathura #school of #arts, which flourished during both the Kushan and Gupta Empires.

The Mathura School of Arts, spanning from the 2nd Century BCE to the 6th Century CE, was the first artistic center to produce Devotional icons representing three major religious faiths: Brahmanism, #Jainism, and #Buddhism. This school of art drew inspiration from Indian iconography, particularly the depictions of nature deities such as yakshas, yakshis, and nagas.

During the early centuries of the Common Era, especially throughout the Kushana Period, the Mathura School of Art experienced remarkable development. This period, characterized by the reigns of Kushana rulers Kanishka I, Huviska, and Vasudeva, is often regarded as the Golden Era of Kushana Art. As the second capital of the Kushans, Mathura became a vital hub for trade and commerce, facilitating the distribution of locally crafted sculptures made from the distinctive spotted red sandstone quarried at #Sikri in Uttar Pradesh.

Artisans during this time demonstrated a particular proficiency in portraying female figures. The sculptures often feature elegant representations, emphasizing attributes such as beautiful facial characteristics, flowing hair, pronounced hips, and graceful postures.

In commemoration of Mathura Museum’s centenary, #India Post issued a se-tenant pair featuring two notable artifacts from the Museum on 09 October 1974. One of these artifacts presents a woman playing a #flute beneath a flowering #tree, and it was issued with a face value of 25 paise.