Professor Lolita Nehru, ST Lee Visiting Professorial Fellow (February to June 2004)
Professor of Art History at the Department of History of Art of the National Museum Institute in New Delhi, Lolita Nehru specialises in the History of Early Indian Art, 6th century BC to 3rd century AD, viewed in the context of the art of the ancient world which extended from the eastern Mediterranean to India. She is also specialised in the Art of ancient Gandhara, 6th BC to 5th century AD. Her research has included the Art of western Central Asia from 6th century BC to 4th century AD, when this region was controlled, successively, by the Achaemenid Persians, Hellenistic Greeks and nomad tribes from the northern steppes (Parthians, Sakas, Yueh-chi/Kushanas). In the early centuries of the Christian era, Indian Buddhism had a major impact in parts of western central Asia, bringing with it Indian norms of style and iconography.
Professor Nehru as a Fellow of the School worked on the completion of a book on the transformation of the Classical presence in the art of western Central Asia, with research themes providing scope for comparisons with what was happening in regions geographically closer to the eastern Mediterranean world (Egypt, Syria) or indeed even with the spread of Hellenism westward into Europe.
Professor Nehru gave a seminar in the Dean's Seminar ‘Local traditions in the Art of Western Central Asia from 6th century B.C. to 1st century B.C.’ and gave the S.T. Lee lecture on 15 June 2004 ‘The Begram Ivories’.
