Kushan and Gupta Dynasties India

Arts of Asia

Taylor Pak

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Kushan Period: c. 1st – 3rd
century CE

Gold coin of
Kanishka I (ca. 120)

BOΔΔO (‘Buddo’)=
Buddha

Kanishka I. Red sandstone, Mathura,

Kushan period, 1st century CE. 2
32 Major Signs of the Buddha

v Mark of the Wheel of Law on soles of feet or palms of hands

v A bump on the top of the head known as ushnisha

• Ushnisha: a cranial bump on the head of the Buddha symbolizing
his wisdom/divine knowledge.

v Tuft of hair between eyebrows (urna) symbolizing spiritual insight.

v Webbed fingers and toes: The fingers and toes of a Buddha are
connected with a web of white light.

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Gandhara vs. Mathura

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Gandhara vs. Mathura

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Gandhara Style

• Greco-Roman (or Hellenistic) style: wavy

hair, heavy drapery of the garment,
western facial features, muscular body
shape.

• The figure often stands with its weight on

one foot (contrapposto)

• The garment with deep folds = toga (worn

by the citizens of ancient Romans)

• Ushnisha in the form of topknot = the style

of Greek antiquity (krobylos)

• Material: gray-blue or gray-black schist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF8nQGCdkIM
(3:19)

Standing Buddha. Gray schist, Gandhara region,

Kushan period, 1st-2nd c. CE. 6
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 Augustus,
late 1st c. BCE-early 1st c. CE.

Apollo, late 4th c. BCE.

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 Buddhist triad. Dated to c. 182 C.E.
Gray schist; h. 24⅜” (62 cm). Gandhara region. Kushan period.
Collection of Claude de Marteau, Brussels. 10
Standing Bodhisattva. Schist stone sculpture,
Gandhara region, 2nd c. CE. 11
Mathura Style
• The organic tradition of Indian Sculpture:
voluptuous representation emphasizing
the organic and flowing character of a
human body.

• The garment is very thin and clings to

the body revealing the contours of the
form beneath.

• ushnisha in the shape of a conch shell

(spiral hair).

• Material: red sandstone (with some

imperfections in the form of creamy
white spots or streaks)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1baLJnB-LMw
(1:11)

Seated Buddha with attendants.

Red sandstone,
Mathura region, Kushan period, 2nd c. CE. 12
 Yakshi (nature deity),
East gate of the Great Stupa at Sanchi, 1st c. BCE.

Yakshi with a bird cage.

Railing pillar; red sandstone;
Bhuteshar, near Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Kushan period, 2nd century C.E.
Seated Buddha with attendants. Red sandstone; h. 36⅝” (93.3 cm).
Mathura region, Uttar Pradesh, India. Kushan period, c. 124 C.E.
Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth. 14
Gupta Period: c. 320-550 CE

• Embodies earlier styles of Mathura and Gandhara

while achieving greater sophistication.

• Sensuous modeling of faces and bodies

• Harmonious proportions of figures

Standing Buddha.
Red sandstone; h. 63” (160 cm).
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Gupta period, early 5th century CE. 15
National Museum, New Delhi.
Snail style hair coils

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 Standing Buddha, sandstone.
Sarnath area, Uttar Pradesh, India, Gupta period, c. 475 CE.

The First Sermon. Sandstone; h. 63” (160 cm).

Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. Gupta period, c. 475 C.E.
Museum of Archaeology, Sarnath. 17
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