GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY

Details

A large gray schist relief of the Renunciation
Gandhara, 2nd/3rd century
Deeply carved with a central scene of Siddhartha in the Palace preparing to leave, seated on a couch with Yosodhara lying asleep, with finely rendered implements placed on the ground, all beneath a dentil frieze, with his horse Kanthaka approaching at left and musicians at right
18¼ in. (46.3 cm.) wide

Provenance

Japanese Collection, 1990s

Literature

'Gandhara bijutsu', Kobijutsu, no. 103, August 1992, fig. 9.

Exhibited

Tokyo, Ancient Orient Museum, Gautama Buddha no shokai, 1992, cat. no. 30, p. 34.

Lot Essay

This scene preceeds the 'Great Departure', as Siddhartha renounces his princely existence and gives instructions to his groom Chandaka to saddle his horse, while Yosodhara and the musicians have fallen asleep; see H. Ingholt, Gandharan Art in Pakistan, 1957, cat. no. 39, p. 58f.

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