RELATING VISUAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL STYLES IN TIBETAN SCULPTURE ANALYSIS

Traditional methods of stylistic analysis currently applied by art his torians can be augmented to include technological choices made by arti sts regarding materials and techniques of production, and how those ch oices are related to the appearance and function of the products. One framework for analyzing style is to divide it into three components. V isual factors involve application of choices within a given material a nd technique, and affect the iconography and aesthetic impact of a wor k. Techno-visual factors include technical choices that directly impac t visual appearance. Technical factors involve decisions about materia ls and techinques with no obvious impact on the visual appearance of t he finished product. All three factors can be described and analyzed f or a fuller understanding of art traditions. This three-part framework is applied to an analysis of copper-based sculptures from medieval Ti bet.