Early Buddhist Art
Artist: unknown
Title: Great Stupa at Sanchi (Stupa I), north gateway (torana),
east pillar, west face
Material: Stone
Site: Sanchi, India
Current Location: Sanchi, India
Period/Date: Sunga period (ca. 25 C.E.)
Iconography/Iconology: The male figure carries an unidentified object
in his right hand and stands in front of a mango tree. Originally, there
were eight of these figures, one on each of the uprights of the eight torana
pillars. Their interpretation is very problematic. They may be donors/patrons,
entrance guardians (dvarapala), or even Bodhisattvas. This latter
possibility raises many questions, but is not impossible because the concept
of the bodhisattva is well-developed in the literature by this time.
Stylistic Comments: The slightly corpulent figure is characteristic
of the Indic ideal of male beauty of the time. He is draped in a thin,
almost diaphanous lower garment, while the upper body is nude, except for
his jewelry. The elaborate turban is characteristic of princely figures
of this time.
