Author Description

The collection of John and Berthe Ford represents one of the most important private holdings of Indian and Himalayan art in the world. Certain objects have been widely exhibited; others have never been publicly shown. The exhibition and the accompanying publication bring together works from both India and the Himalayas, demonstrating the range and depth of the Ford collection, providing an extraordinary overview of 2,000 years of history; and illustrating enduring themes in the art of Southeast Asia with outstanding works of art. The catalogue is accompanied by two introductory essays: "Introduction: Desire and Devotion," by Pratapaditya Pal, and "Artistic Production, Religious Practice: Material and Ideological Constraints," by Hiram Woodward.