GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY

The graceful lines of the face, with the prominent chin, full lips, and gently arching brows contribute to the regal nature of this head of Buddha. Because he has cast aside the life of a prince, Buddha is shown without ornamentation, though the lobes of his ears hang pendulously from years of wearing heavy jewelry. The locks of the hair, pulled up and tied back over the ushnisha, reflect the emphasis on naturalism in the Gandharan period, whereas in later periods, the Buddha's hair is often shown in stylized snailshell curls. The refined minimalism of this head is reinforced by the lustrous quality of the stone, a dark and finer grain of schist that was highly prized for the high level of detail a sculptor could achieve with this material, and was therefore often reserved for the most important figures.