write short history of Ganddhaar sculpture art (10marks)
Answers
Explanation:
unique style of Buddhist sculpture called Gandhara art developed in ancient times in the Gandhara region of the Indian subcontinent, in what is now northwestern Pakistan. The region also extended into eastern Afghanistan. Gandhara art was produced between the 1st century bc and the 7th century ad. This school of art evolved a distinct type of Buddha statue and was also rich in relief sculptures depicting Buddhist myth and legend. The style was strongly influenced by the art of ancient Greece and Rome but also drew largely from Indian traditions of composition. Gandhara sculpture thus mixed elements of both Western and Eastern art.
The Gandhara region had long been a crossroads of cultural influences. It came under Persian rule in the 6th and 5th centuries bc and was conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th century bc. Gandhara was thereafter ruled by the Mauryan dynasty of India. During the reign of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, in the 3rd century bc, Gandhara became a center for the spread of Buddhism. In the 1st century ad, the region became part of the Kushan empire. The rulers of the Kushan empire maintained contacts with Rome.
In its interpretation of Buddhist legends, the Gandhara school of art incorporated many themes and techniques from Classical Roman art. These included vine scrolls, centaurs, Tritons (sea deities), and cherubs (winged children) bearing garlands. The basic imagery and symbolism, however, remained Indian.
Gandhara artists created numerous statues of the Buddha in a relatively naturalistic (or realistic) fashion. He was represented in the style of the Greek god Apollo, with a youthful, rather sweet-featured face and wavy hair. The Buddha figures were dressed in garments like those seen on statues from the Roman Empire.