Gandharan Statuette of Buddha Gautama

A finely modelled dark grey schist statuette from Gandhara, dated between the 2nd and 4th century AD. The statuette portrays Buddha Shakyamuni, the Buddha who has reached enlightenment and upon whose teachings the religion was founded. The figure is shown standing, wearing a simple, monastic robe over both shoulders, covering his entire body, with the only exception of his hands. Much attention is given towards the rendering of the robe’s deep folds and pleats. The Buddha presents some of the Laksana, the traditional physical signs, which express spiritual perfection in Gandharan art, such as the Usnia, the top-knot hairstyle, and the Urna, the dot placed on the forehead between the eyes. A large unadorned nimbus frames the Buddha’s head. The Buddha is characterized by a calm expression, reinforcing his majesty and quiet authority. The Buddha’s left hand is shown holding a part of the robe, while his right hand, now missing, would have been held in abhaya mudra, a gesture of approachability. On the base of the sculpture, two figures of worshippers or donors, one at each side of an altar, have been carved in low relief. The statuette was likely once part of a large-scale narrative panel modelled in high relief: the flat surface on the reverse indicates that the statuette was attached to a surface behind it, rather than free standing.