Gandhara Lunette with Buddha and Followers
Date250 C
Place of ManufactureAsia
MediumMaterial: stone, schist, grey
DimensionsOverall: 24.7 x 36.6 x 5.2 cm
ClassificationsFINE ART
Credit LineFred & Isabel Pollard Collection
Object number1967.180.001 a,b
DescriptionThese relief sculptures fall into the category of Gandharan style or the so-called `Greco-Buddhist' school of the northwest region of India, which is now present-day Pakistan. There the influence of the Mediterranean world was parmount from at least the second century A.D., filtered through the kingdoms of the Near East, especially Parthia and the early Sasanian Empire. The classical appearance of the characteristic schist reliefs makes them easy to approach by the Westerner.
The Gandharan sculptor created a Buddha image of Apollo type and it has a great influence on the Buddhist art of Central Asia and China. This lunette in relief shows Buddha with four attendants, and the pillars show a human holding a pedestal supporting two bulls separated by an animal mask.
Status
Not on view
1903
Utagawa Toyokuni
Ryu Unsai
