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The Gandharan Buddha image was inspired by Hellenistic realism, tempered by Persian, Scythian, and Parthian models. Sculptors constructed Buddhist images with anatomical accuracy, spatial depth, and foreshortening. In this art, Buddha's curls were altered into wavy hair. The Buddha or Gandhar art is sometimes very thin, which is opposite in Mathura art. It looks like the Mathura, Gandhara arts cross-fertilized in due course of time, and the bulky Mathura Buddha gradually gave way to the slender elegance of the Gandharan image. The result of this synthesis ennobled, refined, and purified the Buddha image that appeared in the Gupta period. This Gupta style became the model for Southeast Asian Buddha images.
Salient Features
- Gandhara School was based on Greco-Roman norms encapsulating foreign techniques and an alien spirit. It is also known as Graeco-Buddhist School of art.
- The foreign influence is evident from the sculptures of Buddha in which they bearA pessimist market operator who expects the market price of shares to decline. The term also refers to the one who has sold shares which ..... resemblance to the Greek sculptures. Grey sandstone (Blue-grey Mica schist to be precise) is used in Gandhara School of Art.
- The Bamyan Buddha of Afghanistan were the example of the Gandhara School. The other materials used were Mud, Lime, Stucco. However, Marble was NOT used in Gandhara art. Terracotta was used rarely. Bimaran Casket has yielded the earliest specimen of the Gandhara Art.
The Various Mudras of Buddha in Gandhar Art
In all the Buddha depicted in the Gandhara Art is shown making four types of hand gestures and this is a remarkable feature in this art. The gestures are as follows:
- Abahayamudra : Don't fear
- Dhyanamudra : meditation
- Dharmachakramudra: a preaching mudra
- Bhumisparshamudra: Touching the earth.
Major Centres
Jalalabad, Hadda, Bamaran, Begram & Taxila were the main centers where art pieces of Gandhara School have been found. Both Shakas and Kushanas were patrons of Gandhara School. The head of the Buddha matched very much with Greek God Apollo.
Mathura School of Art Vs. and Gandhara School of Art
Factor | Mathura School | Gandhara School |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | No foreign Influence, however, later it cross fertilized with the Gandhara School. | Strong Greek influence. |
| Its development took place indigenously. | Was based on Greco-Roman norms encapsulating foreign techniques and an alien spirit. It is also known as Graeco-Buddhist School of art. | |
| Initially inspired by Yaksha Images | Assimilating various traits of Acamenian, Parthian and Bactrian traditions into the local tradition is a hallmark of the Gandhara style | |
| Initially inspired by Hellenistic features. | ||
| Material Used | Spotted Red Sandstone | Blue-grey Mica schist / Grey Sandstone |
| Image Features | Early period: Light volume having fleshy body | Finer details and realistic images |
| Later Period: Flashiness reduced. | Buddha carved out in various Mudras. | |
| Not much attention to detailed sculpting. Buddha is stout | Curley hair, anatomical accuracy, spatial depth, and foreshortening | |
| Buddha is sometimes thin | ||
| Halo | The halo around the head of Buddha was profusely decorated. | Not decorated, generally. |
| Images are less expressive | The images are very expressive, |
Amaravati School of art
The third type of sculpture art that Flourished during the Kushana time was Amaravati School of art in the Andhra PradeshPopulation (2001 Census) : 76210007Males : 38527413Females : 37682594Sex Ratio (Females/1000 Males) : 978Density Of Population (Persons/ Square Km) : 275Urban Population % : 27.08Literacy ...... White Marble was used in this art and the themes were Buddha’s life and Jatakas tales. The curly hairs of Buddha is a feature that is influenced by the Greeks. In this school, the Kings, Princes, Palaces etc. have got prominence.
