Page 18 - 2021 March 17th, Indian and Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art, Christie's New York City

GANDHARAN MASTERPIECES FROM A PRIVATE JAPANESE COLLECTION

405
A LARGE GRAY SCHIST RELIEF DEPICTING The present scene may represent Mara’s army assaulting Buddha as he
BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI achieves enlightenment. In this narrative, Buddha meditates for forty days
ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 3RD-4TH CENTURY CE underneath the bodhi tree. The demon king, Mara sends warriors and beasts
33¬ in. (85.4 cm.) high; 24¡ in. (61.9 cm.) wide to distract Buddha, but their efforts fail: as the army approaches, Buddha
touches upon the earth to witness his enlightenment, and the army is warded
$50,000-70,000
off. In this relief, Buddha is depicted in the center, seated in meditation pose.
PROVENANCE: Two regally dressed men standing beside him carry swords, and at least one
Private collection, Europe, by 1988, by repute. theriomorphic beast is depicted taunting Buddha from his proper left side.
Important private collection, Japan, by 1990. Both human and beastly figures trample below Buddha’s seat. Contrary to
how the scene is portrayed in later Buddhist art, Buddha is not depicted
LITERATURE:
I. Kurita, Gandharan Art, vol. I, Tokyo, 1988, p. 117, fig. 228. touching the earth; rather, his right hand is reaching downward, the other
grasping his robe.
古犍陀羅 三/四世紀 灰片岩雕釋迦牟尼佛坐像 This scene is quite rare in Gandharan art, with few compositions to compare
to the present work. A well-preserved narrative relief panel representing four
來源:
私人珍藏，歐洲，不晚於1988年（傳）。 scenes from the life of Buddha at the Freer Gallery of Art (acc. no. F1949.9a-d)
重要私人珍藏，日本，不晚於1990年。 includes a depiction of Mara’s assault in a composition very similar to the
present relief. In this representation, Buddha is seated upon a throne, with two
出版:
warriors tumbling beneath him. Two men flank either side of Buddha, similarly
栗田功，《ガンダーラ美術〈I〉仏伝》，東京，1988年，頁117，圖228。
attired, and sword-equipped. An array of armed and threatening beasts is
mixed in with the human figures filling the background. In the Freer example,
Buddha’s left hand is clutching his robe, and his right hand is more clearly
gesturing to the earth.

Cover and illustration from I. Kurita, Gandharan Art, Vol. I, Tokyo, 1988, p. 117.