Head of Buddha

Description

The first face of the Buddha

This Buddha figure has a face characteristic of the codes of Gandhāra “Greco-Buddhist” art, emanating a feeling of plenitude and piety. His half-closed eyelids are a sign of deep meditation. The mouth, small and fleshy, almost sensual, is characteristic of the Gandharian naturalist style, as is the hair treated in fine undulating locks brought back in a bun on the top of the skull, at the place of the uṣṇīṣa.

A witness to the artistic effervescence of Gandhāra

A perfect illustration of Gandhāra art at its apogee, this head is an example of the Indo-Hellenistic artistic crossbreeding that was fully expressed under the royal patronage of the Kuṣāṇs or Yuezhi rulers (1st c BC-AD 240). Alongside the ancient aniconic representations, this Buddha figure deploys an iconography whose codes it permanently fixes. The classicism of this Apollonian face and its naturalism, evident in the plastic harmony of the face, bear witness to the contributions of Greek statuary, as do the Indo-Parthian influences in the stylistic codes, in particular the representation of the chignon in the image of those of the cavalry princes.

High-quality schist

The material of choice for this Greco-Buddhist art, schist is found in various forms throughout the Gandhāra region and the surrounding area. The use of this soft stone allows for a great deal of ease in its treatment, resulting, as here, in faces with incredibly supple modelling. The mouth, with its particularly sensitive workmanship, is a fine example. The fabric of the drapery with which the Blessed Man was dressed can be made out, as can the shape of the halo, leading us to believe that this fragment belonged to a monumental ensemble.

Provenance: Rare Art Inc, New York, 1984.