Discussion

Although there are some similarities between each of the aforementioned cultural influences and Gandharan art, it should be noted that the number of sculptures that portray, in full, one of these artistic traditions are rare. For example, the popular idea of the human form of Buddha arising from a Hellenistic influence is now being questioned. Foucher – a scholar who attests to the idea of Hellenistic features in Gandharan art – argues that the Buddha figure followed Apollo as a principal prototype. On the other hand, scholars like Coomaraswamy, highlight the importance of the Indian human form in the development of the Buddha image. Recent scholarly views seem to predominantly agree with the Coomaraswamy view; the Buddha image follows the Indian tradition more closely (Nehru 25).

Source: Nehru Plate 2

Source: Nehru Plate 24

In the above images, one notices that Classical Western art was more articulate, fine, mathematical, and realistic in execution (top image) compared to Gandharan art. Gandharan art, on the other hand, combines some realism with a more over-whelming influence of generalization from Indian art forms (bottom image) (Nehru 26).  Therefore, what was attributed to lack of artistic ability in ancient Gandharan art is now being recognized as a different artistic expression, one borrowed from India (Abe 74). Nevertheless, it is evident that Greek art form does present itself in Gandharan art in narrative format, as previously mentioned. Indian narration followed a natural and continuous narrative style, usually with a convoluted and crowded background, while, the arrested moment and spatial features of Gandharan art were evidently borrowed from Classic Greek narration (Nehru 48).

Source: Marshall Fig. 6

Source: Nehru Plate 83

The above two images both illustrate the story of the Great Departure; the first from India, and the second from Gandhara. The Gandharan sculptors seem to be more concerned with spacing and single incident moments than the complicated and crowded natural flow of Indian artistry. Moreover, single incidence accounts in Indian art were rarely concerned with a chronological/sequential presentation, unlike Gandharan art – another Greek influence (Nehru 49). Finally, the similarities in formulation between Parthian and Gandharan art may stem from a similar historical background, whereby Greek invasion and a lack of a strong artistic form characterize a large Hellenistic influence in style (Nehru 46). However, although they had similar historical influences, the two art forms can be easily distinguishable in their narrative styles: Parthian art rarely exhibits narrative pieces, preferring the formulation of single incidence sculptures, unlike what is observed in Gandharan art (Nehru 45).