A GRAY SCHIST FIGURE OF MAITREYA, ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 3RD-4TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A GRAY SCHIST FIGURE OF MAITREYA, ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 3RD-4TH CENTURY Kushan period. Finely carved standing in a graceful pose with the right knee slightly bent, holding a kundika in his lowered left hand. His powerful body is draped in gossamer robes and billowing scarves cascading in naturalistic folds, the feet strapped in sandals decorated with leonine masks, the toes masterfully articulated. The Future Buddha is richly adorned with beaded and floral jewelry. His mustachioed face bears a serene expression marked by half-opened almond-shaped eyes and full lips forming an enigmatic smile. His wavy hair is gathered in a double-looped topknot secured by a beaded headdress, backed by a circular nimbus. all above a plinth centered by a confident Maitreya seated above a cushioned throne venerated by pairs of donor figures indicative of ancient Gandhara's cosmopolitan civilization. Dimensions: Height 92 cm (excl. stand), 93 cm (incl. stand) Mounted on an associated stand. (2) The present schist figure is of exceptional sculptural quality. The dramatic visual contrast created by the robe's tension around the body is exceptional. Pulled tightly in vertical and horizontal pleats around the left shoulder and arm, the robe then swoops diagonally across the thighs and slack hems curl above the right knee. This arrangement in Gandharan sculpture is typically reserved for bodhisattvas, with Avalokiteshvara and Maitreya being the most prominently worshiped (see Isao Kurita, Gandharan Art, vol. II, Tokyo, 1990, pp. 14, 33, 49, nos. 15, 71, 117). Maitreya is one of the most popular bodhisattvas depicted in Gandharan sculpture. Also known as the Loving One, he is identified by the kundika, or sacred water flask, held in his lowered left hand. His rise in popularity coincided with the tenants of Mahayana Buddhism, for which the role of the bodhisattva, and his ability to transfer his own merit to others became paramount. In his preordained role as the Buddha of the Future, Maitreya promises redemption and salvation for devoted practitioners of the faith. Images of bodhisattvas reveal the syncretism of Indic and Hellenistic styles, as is depicted in the present figure as an Indian noble bedecked with a jeweled crown and necklace. The almond-shaped eyes and naturalistic modeling of the body nevertheless underscore the influences of the Classical traditions of art. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related Gandharan schist figure of Maitreya, wearing the same pendant necklace, dated 3rd-4th century, 100 cm high, in the Lahore Museum, accession number G-131. Compare a closely related Gandharan schist figure of Maitreya, dated c. 3rd century, 80.7 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 13.96.17. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 2010, lot 140 Price: USD 80,500 or approx. EUR 106,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, garments, and related losses. Note the size (102.9 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 16 September 2008, lot 327 Price: USD 146,500 or approx. EUR 192,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, garments, and related losses. Note the size (127 cm).

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