differentiate between the art of gandhara and mahura school of kushan period
Answers
Explanation:
The Gandhara School of Art reached its peak under the reign of Kanishka the Great from 127 to 151 AD.
- Gandhara School of Art. : It has Hellenistic features of Buddha image
- Mathura School of Art. : The Buddha image at Mathura is modelled on the lines of earlier Yaksha images
Both, Gandhara and Mathura School of Art flourished under the Kushana dynasty. They were contemporaneous. However, Gandhara School was the first to depict Lord Buddha in a human form. Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan belongs to the Gandhara School of Art. Mathura School continued to depict Buddha through symbols for some time before switching to the human form. The differences between the two are:
Gandhara School:-
Modelled on Hellenistic features and was the fusion of Greco-Roman and Buddhist style. Buddha resembled the Greek God Apollo.
Found in the North West region of Indian subcontinent around Gandhar (today part of Afghanistan & Pakistan).
Mainly Buddhist images were found.
Grey sandstone was mainly used. But lime, mud and stucco were also used.
Halo around the head of Buddha was generally not decorated.
Buddha images were spiritual in nature (calm) and his hair was wavy.
Buddha has beard and moustache.
Buddha has a lean body.
Eyes of Buddha are half closed, and he has large ears.
Stress was on the anatomical accuracy and external beauty.
Images of Gandhara school were expressive.
Both seated and standing images of Buddha are present. In Gandhara school, seated images of Buddha has 4 mudras or hand-gestures: dharmachakramudra, abhayamudra, bhumisparshamudra and dhyanamudra. Main theme was from Mahayana Buddhism.
Mathura School:-
Modelled on the Yakshas and was indigenous in nature. Image of Buddha was inspired by images at Bharhut and Sanchi. No foreign element was incorporated in it, except in the later stages when some of the features of Gandhara school were assimilated in it.
Found in the North India around Mathura.
Images related to Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism (Vaishnava & Shaiva) were found. Some secular images were also found here like headless statue of Kanishka, statue of a slave girl, etc.
Spotted red sandstone was mainly used.
The halo around the head of Buddha was profusely decorated.
Buddha images were delightful and not spiritual.
Buddha has no beard and moustache.
Strong muscular features of Buddha are shown. Fleshiness was also reduced during the later stages.
Eyes of Buddha are open, and ears are small.
Stress was on the inner beauty, and anatomical accuracy became a feature only in the later periods.
Images of Mathura school were less expressive.
Most of the images of the Buddha are seated.
There was one more prominent school named as Amravati School of Art. Patrons of this school were Satavahanas and Ikshvakus. Its features were:-
It was indigenous in nature.
Found in South India around Amravati.
Images were related to Buddhism mainly.
White marble was used.
Buddha is represented through symbols only and not through human forms.
It mainly depicts the stories of the Jatakas.
Tribhanga posture is extensively used by the characters of Jatakas in this school of art.
Characters have long legs.
Princes, Kings, palaces were shown in the depiction.