Gandhara, Mathura and Amravati schools of sculpture

• Starts from: 2nd century BCE (Post Mauryan Period)

• Sculpture making reached its climax during this stage.

1. Gandhara:

• The origins of Greco-Buddhist art are to be found in the Hellenistic Greco-Bactrian kingdom (250 BC- 130 BC)

• Outside Influence- Greek influence. Also called Indo Greek Art.

• Religious Influence- Mainly Biddhist .

• Promoted by- Kushana Dynasty.

• Type of Sandstone- Grey Sandstone/Bluishgrey sandstone.

• Areas- Northwest Frontier .

Features of sculptures:

1. Spiritual Buddha(sad buddha) Represents calmness.

2. Bearded Buddha with Moustache Wearing Less ornaments.

3. Having wavy hair.

4. Large forehead.

5. Buddha is seated in position of Yogi.

6. Having large ears.

7. Protuberance on his head.

8. Two Schools:

1. Early – Bluish – grey sandstone.

2. Later – Use of mud and lime plaster.

2.Mathura :

• Mathura art developed during post Maurya peiod (mainly during Shunga period)     and reached its peak during theGupta period (AD 325 to 600).

• Outside Influence- No outside influence – indigenous.

• Religious Influence- All three -Hinduism, Jain, Buddhist .

• Promoted by- Kushana Dynasty.

• Type of Sandstone- Spotted Red Sandstone.

• Areas-  Mathura(U.P).

Features of sculptures:

1. Head and face shaven.

2. Muscularity.

3. Dress is tight, energetic body.

4. Buddha face reflects grace.

5. seated in Padmasana.

6. Right hand in Abhaya.

7. Mudra raised above shoulders.

8. Left hand on thigh.

9. Buddha surrounded by two Bodhisattavas.

    i. Padmapani – Holding lotus .

    ii. Vajrapani –Holding vajra.

10. Halo around the head of Buddha decorated with geometrical motifs.

11. Images of Vaishnava (mainly vishnu and his various forms).

12. Shiva represented through ling and Mukhaling.

13. Jain:Sculpture of Mahavira Protuberance on head.

14. The Buddha image at Mathura is modelled on the lines of earlier Yaksha images whereas in Gandhara it has Hellenistic features.

3.Amravati :

• Evolved and flourished for nearly six centuries commencing from 200-100 BC.

• Patronized first by the Satavahanas and later by the Ikshvakus and also by other   groups.

• Outside Influence- indigenous.

• Religious Influence- Mainly Buddhist.

• Promoted by- Satvahanas and Icchavakus.

• Type of Sandstone- White marbles.

• Areas- Krishna Godavari lower valley.

Features of sculptures:

1. Reflects narrative.

2. Theme based on life of Buddha as Jataka stories.

3. Stories of previous birth of Buddha both in human as well as animal Form.

4. Amaravati has a mahachaitya and had many sculptures which are now 

    preserved in Chennai Museum.

5. bodies are shown with three bents (i.e. tribhanga).

6. Linearity becomes flexible, dynamic movement breaks the staticness of form.

 Source : NCERT & NIOS

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