Central Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 200 BCE to 100 CE. An evocative hand-carved grey schist head of Prince Siddhartha as he becomes Buddha, presenting a sensitively modeled face with solemn, half-closed eyes of an elegant almond shape, a long nose, and a gentle smile. His hair is styled into a bow-shaped topknot and he wears fine earrings and has jeweled bands through his coiffure. This represents him at his moment of enlightenment, before he cast off his princely attire. Size: 3.75" W x 6.45" H (9.5 cm x 16.4 cm)
The Gandharan Empire made itself wealthy in part by controlling lucrative trade along the mountain passes between China in the East and the Near East and Mediterranean in the West; a great deal of this wealth went into local patronage of artisans and art. In the first century CE, Buddhism became fashionable amongst Gandharan elites, and the art produced at this time depicting the Buddha are some of the most striking Buddhist images from the past. Their artistic tradition also reflects the conquest of Alexander the Great and the introduction of styles from all sides, blended into a uniquely Gandharan tradition, which this Buddha exemplifies. Alexander the Great conquered Gandhara in 330 BCE and with the help of the Indo-Greek kings introduced classical traditions that would influence Gandharan art for the following seven centuries. The stylized wavy Mediterranean hair and top knot that derive from the Apollo Belvedere (330 BCE), as well as the sensitive modeling of the tranquil face displayed on this piece, for example, exhibit this classical influence.
Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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#150038
Condition
Head is a fragment from a larger statue, terminating below the neck. Rich deposits on surface, with great preservation of details.