Not currently on display at the V&A

Relief

4th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Only the right half of this narrative relief slab is preserved. It is unframed with a plain plinth at the lower edge. The carving consists of six figures all with their upper bodies turning to the left looking at something in the lost portion of the relief. On the left side of this fragment at the edge of the jagged broken vertical break stands the figure of the Buddha, with part of his right side now missing. He rises through the full height of the relief, clutching his sanghati, carved with deeply grooved folds, in his left hand. His strong oval face with a roundish ushnisha above undulating waves of hair is set against a large plain nimbus. The remaining portion of the relief is filled with two tiers of figures, all smaller than the figure of Buddha. Immediately on his left behind him, stands Vajrapani with his legs apart dressed only in a loincloth. His face with beard and tangled hair is now destroyed. On his bent left arm he has a large thunderbolt leaning against his shoulder. On the right there is a figure of a standing monk with shaven head holding an empty alms bowl. Above these two is a row of three smaller figures all wearing cockaded turbans and rich jewellery. The middle figure holds his hands together in theanjalimudra while that to the right holds up a flower. The one closest to the Buddha is shown holding up his hand right hand which is now broken off.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Grey schist
Brief description
Relief of Buddha and worshippers, grey schist, 4th century AD, Gandhara.
Physical description
Only the right half of this narrative relief slab is preserved. It is unframed with a plain plinth at the lower edge. The carving consists of six figures all with their upper bodies turning to the left looking at something in the lost portion of the relief. On the left side of this fragment at the edge of the jagged broken vertical break stands the figure of the Buddha, with part of his right side now missing. He rises through the full height of the relief, clutching his sanghati, carved with deeply grooved folds, in his left hand. His strong oval face with a roundish ushnisha above undulating waves of hair is set against a large plain nimbus. The remaining portion of the relief is filled with two tiers of figures, all smaller than the figure of Buddha. Immediately on his left behind him, stands Vajrapani with his legs apart dressed only in a loincloth. His face with beard and tangled hair is now destroyed. On his bent left arm he has a large thunderbolt leaning against his shoulder. On the right there is a figure of a standing monk with shaven head holding an empty alms bowl. Above these two is a row of three smaller figures all wearing cockaded turbans and rich jewellery. The middle figure holds his hands together in theanjalimudra while that to the right holds up a flower. The one closest to the Buddha is shown holding up his hand right hand which is now broken off.
Dimensions
  • Height: 0.25m
  • Length: 0.205m
  • Weight: 4kg (approx.)
Style
Credit line
Given by Mrs W. Barker
Subject depicted
Bibliographic reference
Ackermann, Hans Christoph. Narrative Stone Reliefs from Gandhara in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Catalogue and Attempt at a Stylistic History. Reports and Memoirs. Director of the Series Giuseppe Tucci. Volume XVII. IsMEO, Rome, 1975. pp. 137-8 pl. LXIb
Collection
Accession number
IS.219-1949

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Record createdApril 15, 2004
Record URL
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