
Mark Rasmussen
International Director
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Sold for US$6,075 inc. premium
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International Director

Head of Sale, Specialist
犍陀羅 二/三世紀 片岩悉達多太子圖傳石碑
This curved panel of green schist depicts scenes from the life of Prince Siddhartha before he became the Buddha. The lower register illustrates the episode when his jealous cousin Devadatta tries to kill him, striking the state elephant during a celebration of Siddhartha's sporting prowess. In keeping with the synoptic narrative, Siddhartha is also shown throwing the deceased elephant over the city walls, clearing his path. Notable is the fine attention to detail and quaint rendition of the composition, with scenes divided by figures in niches. It is more common for scenes to be divided by simple columns, as in the upper register, however here in the lower register, a camel rider emerges as if stepping out from an alley towards the viewer. In terms of quality, the panel closely compares to another depicting this same scene in the Peshawar Museum, published in Luczanits (ed.), Gandhara, Mainz, 2008, p.220, no.154.
Provenance
The Estate of Benjamin M. Rice II, New York, by 1998