Galerie Golconda

Head of a statuette in dark grey schist, native to the valleys that along the rivers of Afghanistan and Pakistan. This beautiful man’s face portrays familiar Indo-European features, a sensual mouth and large eyes typical of the local fashion. The hairstyle is of Greek inspiration and composed of a turban with a central tuft and nicely arranged locks tied into a high bun placed atop the skull. Good state of preservation. Signs of patina from excavation and erosion. Small scratches and imperfections.
The art of Gandhãra was born on Indian soil and served the religious teachings of Buddhism. It appropriated iconographic elements from the religious repertory of Buddha and skilfully combined them with the sculptural techniques imported from Europe by the Greek soldiers of Macedonia and then Bactria, who made up the armies of Alexander the Great. It was during this period that the first human images of Buddha appeared, in accordance with the Greek belief that considered and depicted the gods as men. This art testifies to the theological evolutions that required new images of devotion serving as spiritual support.