ANANDA K. COOMARASWAMY
Born: 22-8-1877 Died: 9-9-1947
(Ceylon)
(USA)
COOMARASWAMY, ANANDA
KENTISH D. Sc.(London), F. L. S., F.
G. S., M. R. A. S.; Fellow for Research in Indian, Persian and Muhammadan Art,
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass.; Fellow of University College, London; VIce-President,
Indian Society, London; Hon. Correspondent, Archaeological Survey of India,
Vrienden cler aziatische Kunst, The Hague, Gesellschaft fur Asiaticshe Kunst,
Berlin, Coimbra Institute, Hon. Mem., Bhandarkar Oriental Research Inst.,
Poona, etc., son of late Sir Mutu Coomaraswamy, Ceylon: Born 22nd Aug. 1877; m. Dona
Luisa Runstein; one son Educ.; Wycliffe
College, Stonehouse, Glos; U.C., London. Director Mineralogical Survey of
Ceylon, 1903-6; initiated movement for National Education, teaching of
vernaculars in all schools, and revival of Indian culture; Pres. Ceylon Social
Reform Society with these objects; member Ceylon Univ. Association; assisted to
found India Society, 1910; in charge of Art Section at United Provinces
Exhibition, 1910-11; writes and lectures on the history of Indian art, and
general aesthetic, symbolism, and metaphysics. Publications: Reports on the Geology of Ceylon, 1903-6; Voluspa;
Mediaeval Sinhalese Art; The Indian Craftsman; Essays in National Idealism; Art
and Swadeshi; Burning and Melting (with Y. Daud ); Selected Examples of Indian
Art; Indian Drawings, 2 vols.; Viswakarma; Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
(with Sister Nivedita ); Arts and Crafts of India and Ceylon (also French
Edition); Vidyapati (with A. Sen); The Taking of Toll; Rajput Painting; Buddha
and the Gospel of Buddhism; The Mirror of Gesture (with G. K. Duggirala); The
Dance of Siva (also French edition); Portfolio of Indian Art (Museum of Fine
Arts, Boston); Catalogue of the Indian collections in the Museum of Arts,
Boston; An Introduction to Indian Art; Pour comprendre l'art hindoue; History
of Indian and Indonesian Art (also German edition), Yaksas; Les miniatures
orientales de la Collection Goloubew; A New Approach to the Vedas; The
Transformation of Nature in Art; Elements of Buddhist Iconography; La Sculpture
de Bodhgaya; Spiritual Authority and Temporal Power, the early Indian theory of
government, 1942; Hinduism and Buddhism, 1943; Why Exhibit Works of Art, 1943;
Figures of Speech or Figures of Thought, 1945; Religious Basis of the Forms of
Indian Society, 1946; Am I my Brother’s Keeper?, 1947; Articles in leading art
journals and in Encyclopaedia Britannica. Recreations:
gardening, books. Address: Museum
of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass., U. S. A.; 649 South Street, Needham, Mass.
(Died 9th Sept. 1947)