Torso of a Buddha, 1st century-2nd century ::

Details

Place where the work was made: Mathura → Uttar Pradesh → India
Period: Kushan period mid 1st century - early 5th century
Date: 1st century-2nd century
Media category: Sculpture
Materials used: sandstone
Dimensions: 47.0 x 42.0 x 16.0 cm
Signature & date: Not signed. Not dated.
Credit: Gift of Alex Biancardi 1998
Location: Not on display
Accession number: 114.1998
Copyright: Reproduction requests
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About

The youthful male torso is characteristic of the important Mathura school that flourished in northern India under the rule of the Kushan dynasty. Carved from the mottled red sandstone found around Mathura, it demonstrates the skill of the Indian sculptor in eliciting from hard stone the soft contours of a youthful body beneath transparent robes. The absence of this fragment’s head and right hand (which would have been held in a specific gesture, or 'mudra') prevents its precise identification.

The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.27.

Exhibition history

Shown in 1 exhibition

Walking with gods, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 01 Jun 2019–05 Jan 2020

Bibliography

Referenced in 4 publications

Bruce James, Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, 'Asian Collection: South Asia', pg. 288-297, Sydney, 1999, 289 (colour illus.).
Jackie Menzies (Editor), The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales, 'Buddhist Art', Sydney, 2003, 27 (colour illus.).
Jackie Menzies, Look, 'Alex Biancardi November 18, 1923 - November 28, 1998', pg. 13, Melbourne, May 1999, 13 (colour illus.).
Jackie Menzies, Look, 'Evolution and enlightenment', pg. 30- 32., Sydney, Jul 2015, 30 (colour illus.).

Provenance

Alex Biancardi, Jan 1985-Jun 1998, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, donated to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1998.