Question

With reference to Gandhara School of Art, consider the following statements.
1. Gandhara art which was mainly Buddhist, was profoundly influenced by Hellenistic Art.
2. Famous for grace and realism, this school influenced Mathura school of art profoundly.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 or 2

Answer 1

Hint: During the reign of Kushan emperor Kanishka, the Gandhara School of art evolved alongside the Mathura School in the first century AD. The Gandhara School, which is known for the first sculptural depictions of the Buddha in human form, was patronised by both the Shakas and the Kushanas.

Complete answer:
Gandhara art is a Buddhist visual art form that flourished between the first and seventh centuries BCE in what is now northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. The Greco-Roman style seems to have thrived largely during the Kushan empire, and was contemporaneous with a major but separate Kushan art school at Mathura (Uttar Pradesh, India).

The Gandhara School was exemplified by Afghanistan's Bamyan Buddha. Mud, lime, and stucco were the other materials used. Marble, on the other hand, was not used in Gandhara sculpture. Terracotta was only seen in a few instances. The oldest Gandhara Art specimen was found in the Bimaran Casket.
The role of Gandhara in the evolution of the Buddha image has been a subject of much debate among scholars. It is now evident that around the 1st century CE, the Gandhara and Mathura schools each developed their own distinct depictions of the Buddha.

The Gandhara Buddha image was influenced by Persian, Scythian, and Parthian styles, and was inspired by Hellenistic realism. The Gandhara School photographs, in contrast to the Mathura School, are known for their anatomical precision, spatial depth, and foreshortening. Buddha's curves were transformed into wavy hair in this work of art. The Buddha's head mirrored that of the Greek deity Apollo.

Hellenistic art has a major influence on Gandhara art, which was mostly Buddhist. But Gandhara school of art, known for its grace and realism, had a significant influence on the Mathura School of Art.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘A’.

Note: The Gandhara school drew on Roman religion's anthropomorphic patterns to depict the Buddha as a young Apollo-like figure clad in robes similar to those worn by Roman imperial statues.
The image of Buddha in Gandhara sculpture as a "man-god" is thought to be based on Greek mythology.