Relief
3rd century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The relief is divided by broad Corinthian pilasters. On the first scene on the right we see standing Buddha with monks and laymen flocking around him. His right hand is raised in abhayamudra. His head is turned towards a monk approaching him from the left, and carrying a seat with turned legs. The monk is followed by a second one, with a jug in his hands.- we may assume that this is preparations for the Buddha's First Sermon in the Deer Park of Sarnath. On the Buddha's left stands Vajrapani holding a thunderbolt in his right hand, and clasping the hilt of his sword with his raised left hand.
The scene on the left shows sermon of the Buddha in the midst of his monks and other listeners. The Buddha is seated in abhayamudra on a high cushion-covered socle, the front part is damaged. One can recognize the two gazelles in the relief which depicts the Buddha's First Sermon. On the right and on the left a branch of the Bodhi tree grows out of the background. In the foreground, at each side of the Buddha, on low bases two monks sit in meditation. Between the two, in the background the upper half of the body of third monk : thus five monks are represented who traditionally listened to his First Sermon.
The scene on the left shows sermon of the Buddha in the midst of his monks and other listeners. The Buddha is seated in abhayamudra on a high cushion-covered socle, the front part is damaged. One can recognize the two gazelles in the relief which depicts the Buddha's First Sermon. On the right and on the left a branch of the Bodhi tree grows out of the background. In the foreground, at each side of the Buddha, on low bases two monks sit in meditation. Between the two, in the background the upper half of the body of third monk : thus five monks are represented who traditionally listened to his First Sermon.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Grey schist |
Brief description | Relief showing scenes from the First Sermon, 3rd Century AD, Swat valley grey schist. |
Physical description | The relief is divided by broad Corinthian pilasters. On the first scene on the right we see standing Buddha with monks and laymen flocking around him. His right hand is raised in abhayamudra. His head is turned towards a monk approaching him from the left, and carrying a seat with turned legs. The monk is followed by a second one, with a jug in his hands.- we may assume that this is preparations for the Buddha's First Sermon in the Deer Park of Sarnath. On the Buddha's left stands Vajrapani holding a thunderbolt in his right hand, and clasping the hilt of his sword with his raised left hand. The scene on the left shows sermon of the Buddha in the midst of his monks and other listeners. The Buddha is seated in abhayamudra on a high cushion-covered socle, the front part is damaged. One can recognize the two gazelles in the relief which depicts the Buddha's First Sermon. On the right and on the left a branch of the Bodhi tree grows out of the background. In the foreground, at each side of the Buddha, on low bases two monks sit in meditation. Between the two, in the background the upper half of the body of third monk : thus five monks are represented who traditionally listened to his First Sermon. |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Purchased from H.C.Fanshawe, Esq. C.S.I., 72 Philbach Gardens, Earl's Court, S.W.5 |
Object history | From the Swat Valley, N.W.F.P; IM.293-1921 to IM.310-1921 purchased for £50. Purchased from H.C.Fanshawe, Esq. C.S.I., 72 Philbach Gardens, Earl's Court, S.W.5. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. R.P. 1921-4789 & 4604 |
Subjects depicted | |
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Collection | |
Accession number | IM.293-1921 |
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Record created | December 18, 2003 |
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