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Gandharan Schist Statue of Buddha

About the Item

Gandharan Schist Buddha Circa 3rd Century A.D. This finely carved stone statue depicts the Buddha, clad in cascading folds of fabric, clinging lightly to the contours of his body; particular attention has been given to the hair and face, and his heavy-lidded eyes emanate a sense of serenity and benevolence. The piece represents a beautiful example of the Graeco-Buddhist style; such statues were commonly seen in the religious precincts of Gandhara, the birthplace of some of the most iconic and important works of Buddhist art. Ancient Gandhara, nestled in the snowy peaks and lush valleys of the Hindu Kush, was a meeting place between East and West. The region’s strategic position encouraged successive waves of foreign invaders, whose cultures were aptly adopted and recontextualised by the local population. This dynamic multiculturalism brought forth sculpture of incredible sophistication, melding the complex nontheistic world of Buddhism with the idealism of the Hellenistic art of the Greek settlers, who had been first lead into the region by Alexander the Great. This Indo-Greek population remained in contact with the Mediterranean world throughout antiquity, and through them the precepts of Buddhism became known to philosophers like Phyrro and Onesicritus, and even to early Church Fathers like Clement of Alexandria. This syncretic relationship also produced the first anthropomorphic depictions of the Buddha - who had previously been represented only in symbols, like the Bodhi tree or the empty chair - and so represents an important turning point in the history of Asian art, the impact of which would spread as far as Thailand and Japan. As the Dalai Lama has put it: ‘‘One of the distinguishing features of the Gandharan school of art that emerged in north-west India is that it has been clearly influenced by the naturalism of the Classical Greek style. Thus, while these images still convey the inner peace that results from putting the Buddha’s doctrine into practice, they also give us an impression of people who walked and talked and slept, much as we do... These figures are inspiring because they do not only depict the goal, but also the sense that people like us can achieve it if we try.’’ Height as mounted: 55.9 cm Head and outer edge of robe reattached. Old restorations to back right side of head and nose. Provenance: Private French collection, acquired from the Le Breton Gallery in the late 1960s. With French cultural property passport 188247.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 21 in (53.34 cm)Width: 9.75 in (24.77 cm)Depth: 4 in (10.16 cm)
  • Style:
    Classical Greek (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Schist
  • Place of Origin:
    Pakistan
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 3rd century AD
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 419031stDibs: LU105229979843
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