Early Buddhist Art
Artist: unknown
Title: bodhisattva head
Material: Sikrari sandstone
Site: Mathura, India
Current Location: Lucknow Museum, India
Period/Date: Kushana period (ca. 150 C.E.)
Iconography/Iconology: The elaborate headdress, with its complex caucade
and knotted tassle, was apparently a royal perogative during the Kushan
period. This symbolism was widely used for bodhisattva images. While this
has occassionally been called a "prince", the presence of the
urna (i.e. the raised circular area between the eyebrows), indicates
that it is a bodhisattva or being destined for enlightenment.
Stylistic Comments: The smooth archaic features of the face are iconographically,
rather than stylistically, determined. The texts are specific in stating
that the Buddhas and bodhisattvas are ten times more attractive than the
gods, who are, in turn, ten times more attractive than humans. This was
interpreted in Indian sculpture by a smooth mask-like appearance, free from
blemishes and an extremely precise rendering of the feature details.
