Gandhara vs. Mathura: Art Schools of Ancient India
On the western borders of Punjab, the Gandhara School of Art flourished in modern-day Afghanistan and Peshawar. The Mathura School developed on the banks of the River Yamuna between the first and third centuries BCE. Regardless of the fact that both schools of art seem to have arisen during the Kushana dynasty’s reign, they are found in separate locations: in Mathura and in the Northwest Frontier.
Mathura School of Art
- This School of Art was heavily influenced by Indianism.
- Spotted red sandstone was commonly used for sculptures and statues.
- Initially, the Bodhisattva and Buddha are shown as happy, plump figures with very little spirituality.
- The representatives of Buddha, as well as statues of several gods and goddesses, particularly Jain Tirthankaras, were popular at the Mathura School of Arts.
- The sculptures of the Mathura School influenced the narratives and images of all major faiths of the period: Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism.
- The pictures were based on Yaksha images, which were found during the Mauryan period.
Gandhara School of Art
- During the era of the Kushan Empire, Gandhara art flourished in India.
- Kanishka, the Kushana dynasty’s greatest ruler, was a patron of architecture and the arts.
- The Gandhara School of Art developed under his reign.
- Greek invaders brought with them the traditions of Roman and Greek sculptors, which influenced the native traditions of the region.
- This is why the Gandhara School became recognized as the Greco-Indian School of Art.
- The Gandhara School was affected greatly by the techniques of the Greeks.
Distinction Between Mathura and Gandhara Schools of Art
The Gandhara School prospered in two eras between 50 BCE and 500 CE, while the Mathura School thrived between the first and third centuries BCE on the banks of the Yamuna.
Area
The Gandhara School was developed in the Northwest Frontier’s modern-day Kandahar area, whereas, at Mathura School, growth was achieved in Mathura, Kankalitila, and Sonkh. Moreover, Kankalitila was known for its Jain sculptures.
Religious Influence
The most common religious influence in the Gandhara School is Buddhist imagery influenced by the Greco-Roman pantheon, although in the Mathura School, the three major religions of that time (Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism) had an impact.
Materials Used
Early Gandhara School structures were made of bluish-grey sandstone, then later of mud and stucco. The Mathura School’s sculptures were made of spotted red sandstone.
Foreign Influence
As a consequence of the overwhelming influence of Hellenistic or Greek sculpture, the Gandhara School of Art is also known as Indo-Greek art. The Greek invaders brought with them the traditions of Roman and Greek sculptors, which influenced the native traditions of the region. The Mathura School of Art, on the other hand, was founded by indigenous people without the influence of outside cultures.
Depiction of Buddha
In the Gandhara School of Art, the Buddha is shown in a spiritual mindset, with flowing hair. He is wearing little jewelry and is in the yoga position. The eyes are half-closed, as in meditation. A protuberance on the Buddha’s head represents his omniscience. The halo is rarely ornamented in the Gandhara style; moreover, the paintings are far more expressive.
In the Mathura School of Art, Buddha’s face is represented with a joyful look, wearing a body-hugging outfit denoting muscularity. The hair on the head and face has been shaved. The Buddha is sitting in Padmasana, wearing several mudras and with a calm expression. The same protuberance can be noticed on the head.
Depiction of Women
In the Mathura School of Art, the woman was the focal point of the painting, and few pieces of Indian art can compete in terms of delicacy, appeal, and beauty with the stunning female figures made by the Mathura artists. In the Gandhara School of Art, another striking feature is the presence of images of the Mother Goddess, as the devotion to this goddess continues as an essential religious expression for common people. Moreover, like some other prominent religious cults, Buddhism became entangled with the fertility cult.
Conclusion
Some attribute the first iconographers to Gandhara’s Hellenistic artists, while others attribute it to sculptures of Mathura. Sculptures made by the former are usually associated with the Gandhara School, whereas those made by the latter are associated with the Mathura school. Because the iconographic and sculptural parts of their work differ in key details, it is possible that both schools worked on images at the same time.