Gandhara Bust, a Bodhisattva or a Minor Divinity

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About the Item

Gandhara Art The childish looking face with round cheeks and luscious lips is marked by a sweet melancholic expression which we can recognize, in a Buddhist context, an infinite sadness given the human condition, as well as the profound devotion towards Buddha. Being a bodhisattva, he is wearing the uttaraya, a big tissue worn as a cloak that wraps itself around his left shoulder before passing around the back coming right under the right arm. The child holds a piece of the cloak, as if to keep it in place, in his left hand, which recalls a gesture often portrayed by Buddha. His curly hair, arranged in two rows held together by a band, frames his face, whilst the larger curls fall onto the neck. This Hellenistic influence is reinforced by the facial characteristics, such as the straight and short nose, the delicate lips and the subtle transitions of the flesh. The body is portrayed in the midst of a graceful gesture, in which the face is slightly leaning forward towards the left, whilst the rest of the body is turned slightly towards the right, thus giving the impression that the child turns towards a scene that he discovers with attention and with respect. He must have been part of a larger composition. This young prince, who carries a koushan necklace decorated with a thick round cabochon, framed with two rectangular pearls, all attached to a thick chain made out of golden threads, like those generally worn by bodhisattvas. He might be the representation of a bodhisattva at a tender age, a genie, or a secondary divinity of the Buddhist temples. This piece resembles various bodhisattva representations made out of stucco coming from the Hadda region, yet the closest resemblance is preserved at the British Museum (under the number OA 1953.11-21.I). The one preserved at the British Museum is portrayed with his head slightly turned towards the right, laughing, whilst his hair, set in two curled rows, frames his face, the eyes are wide open and have the tendency to be round. These characteristics seems to reveal the representation of childhood in the Gandhara art, but they are so rare that comparisons are hard to be made. He may also be compared to the “Génie aux Fleurs”, preserved in the Guimet Museum (MG 17 190). For the child’s head, coming from the Kyber passage, currently preserved at the British Museum, mentioned above, please see W Zwalf, A Catalogue of the Gandhara Sculpture, Volume 1, n°627, p.337-338 et Volume 2, n°627, p. 330. Provenance : Ex private Belge Collection, Bruxelles, 200? Marché de l'Art Bruxelles, 200?.

Dimensions:
Height: 10.04 in (25.5 cm)Width: 7.09 in (18 cm)Depth: 2.37 in (6 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Stucco
Place of Origin:
Pakistan
Period:
15th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
4th-5th Century AD
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. missing the right arm.
Seller Location:
Paris, FR
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU3661111917263

Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Face or Bust Sculpture

$520 Sale Price

20% Off