Gandhara Sculpture Of Patna Museum by C.P. Sinha

Gandhara Sculpture of the Patna Museum, authored by C.P. Sinha and Arabinda Singha Roy, offers an insightful exploration of the Gandhara sculptures housed in the Patna Museum. These sculptures, originating primarily from the Peshawar region of Pakistan, reflect the rich Indo-Greek and Greco-Buddhist art traditions that flourished in the Gandhara region between the 1st century BCE and the 4th century CE. The Patna Museum’s collection, consisting of stone and stucco sculptures loaned by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1923, includes pieces from renowned Gandhara sites like Sahr-i-Bahlol, Takht-i-Bahi, and the Swat Valley. The book begins with an introduction to the Gandhara School of Art, detailing its foundations in Greco-Buddhist traditions. Influenced by Hellenistic culture brought to the region by Alexander the Great’s conquests, Gandhara artists used Greek and Roman techniques to depict Buddhist themes with great naturalism and realism. The sculptures, primarily made of schist stone and stucco, feature finely crafted details like serene expressions, drapery folds, and intricate hairstyles, marking the cosmopolitan essence of Gandhara art. The authors divide Gandhara art into two phases: the first, beginning in the 1st century CE, represents the Buddha in human form, departing from earlier symbolic representations; the second phase, in the 3rd century CE, sees an increase in Bodhisattva images. Many sculptures in the museum are busts or heads, with only a few complete figures intact. The book provides a detailed catalog of these artifacts, highlighting their artistic significance. A comparative analysis of the Patna Museum’s collection with other Gandhara collections across India underscores the cultural exchange between the Gandhara region and the broader Indian subcontinent. The monograph serves as a valuable resource for researchers, shedding light on the role of Gandhara art in the spread of Buddhist art throughout South and Southeast Asia.