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Head of the Buddha

Sculpture
4th century-5th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This beautiful head of the Buddha was once part of a large-scale narrative panel modelled in high relief. It formed part of a life-size figure, probably of Gautama the Buddha as a young man. Like much Gandharan stucco, this head was originally richly polychromed, and traces of red remain on the lips, eyelids and hair.

The face was shaped from a mould. Examples of such moulds have been found in excavations at Gandharan sites, which indicates such figures were manufactured at the monasteries where they were installed. However, the hair and other features were modelled by hand. A flat surface on the reverse indicates that the head was attached to a surface behind rather than free-standing. The remaining wall fragment probably formed part of the Buddha’s nimbus.

The head displays several of the characteristic auspicious marks (‘laksanas’) of the Buddha. These include the prominent hair-knot (‘ushnisha’), which here has been treated in a Graeco-Roman style unlike contemporary Indian styles. Another of the marks is the forehead mark (‘urna’). The elongated earlobes are an allusion to the Buddha’s former princely status when he wore pendant earrings.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHead of the Buddha (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Stucco with polychrome
Brief description
Head of the Buddha, stucco with polychrome, probably Taxila, Pakistan, 4th-5th century
Physical description
No style of Indian art is more easily assimilated into the Western canon than Gandharan sculpture. Numerous monasteries, shrines and stupas, richly decorated with stone and stucco, were commissioned by the merchant communities. Like other Gandharan stucco, this head was originally richly coloured. It displays several of the characteristic marks of the Buddha: the prominent hair-knot (ushnisha), here treated in a Graeco-Roman manner unlike contemporary Indian styles; the forehead mark (urna); and the elongated earlobes, an allusion to his former princely status when he wore pendant earrings. The head formed part of a life-size figure, probably of Gautama the Buddha as a young man. It bends slightly to the left with downward gaze, and is clean shaven. Traces of red remain on the lips and eyelids. The face was shaped from a mould, but the hair etc were modelled by hand.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.2cm
  • Width: 18cm
  • Depth: 19cm
Style
Gallery label
Head of the Buddha AD 400–500 Ancient Gandhara Hadda, Afghanistan Stucco with traces of paint This graceful head was once part of a colourful narrative panel modelled in high relief. It formed part of a life-size figure of the Buddha as a young man. Its style combines the heavy lidded eyes and full lips associated with Indian Gupta art with the naturalistic traits derived from contact with the classical world. Museum no. IM.3-1931(1/4/2009)
Object history
Bought from Messrs Spink
Production
Probably Taxila, Pakistan
Subject depicted
Summary
This beautiful head of the Buddha was once part of a large-scale narrative panel modelled in high relief. It formed part of a life-size figure, probably of Gautama the Buddha as a young man. Like much Gandharan stucco, this head was originally richly polychromed, and traces of red remain on the lips, eyelids and hair.

The face was shaped from a mould. Examples of such moulds have been found in excavations at Gandharan sites, which indicates such figures were manufactured at the monasteries where they were installed. However, the hair and other features were modelled by hand. A flat surface on the reverse indicates that the head was attached to a surface behind rather than free-standing. The remaining wall fragment probably formed part of the Buddha’s nimbus.

The head displays several of the characteristic auspicious marks (‘laksanas’) of the Buddha. These include the prominent hair-knot (‘ushnisha’), which here has been treated in a Graeco-Roman style unlike contemporary Indian styles. Another of the marks is the forehead mark (‘urna’). The elongated earlobes are an allusion to the Buddha’s former princely status when he wore pendant earrings.
Bibliographic references
  • J Irwin, The Studio, Jan 1948 M Bussagli, L'Arte del Gandhara, Torino, 1984, p229 and fig 1 J Guy, A Grand Design, The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1977, p241-2, no 90
  • The art of India and Pakistan, a commemorative catalogue of the exhibition held at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1947-8. Edited by Sir Leigh Ashton. London: Faber and Faber, [1950] No. 130 [99], p. 39 and plate 21
  • The Crossroads of Asia : transformation in image and symbol in the art of ancient Afghanistan and Pakistan / edited by Elizabeth Errington and Joe Cribb with Maggie Claringbull. Cambridge: Ancient India and Iran Trust, 1992 Number: 0951839918 pp. 210-211, cat. no. 206
  • Kushan sculpture : images from early India / Stanislaw J. Czuma ; with the assistance of Rekha Morris. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art in cooperation with Indiana University Press, 1985 Number: 091038682X :, 0910386838 (pbk.) pp. 214-6, cat. 120
  • Ayers, J. Oriental Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1983, ISBN 0-85667-120-7 p. 60
  • Irwin, John C., Indian Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1968 pl. 4b
  • Irwin, John, C., A Brief Guide to Indian Art, H.M.S.O. 1962 fig. 3
  • Baker, Malcolm, and Brenda Richardson (eds.), A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: V&A Publications, 1999.
  • Irwin, John; Indian Art: Victoria & Albert Museum departmental guide, H.M.S.O. ISBN 0 905209117, 1978 fig. 4, pp. 6-7
  • L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació "La Caixa" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació "la Caixa", c2007 Number: 9788476649466 p.132, Cat.87
  • Giovanni Verri, Christian Luczanits, Victor Borges, Nick Barnard and John Clarke, 'Investigations of a Gandharan stucco head of the Buddha at the Victoria and Albert Museum (IM.3-1931)' in Techne, no. 48, 2019, pp. 136-149.
Collection
Accession number
IM.3-1931

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Record createdFebruary 13, 2000
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