Consider the following statements regarding the Greek (Gandhara) and Mathura Schools of Art:

1. The Gandhara school of art was heavily influenced by Hellenistic styles, while the Mathura school was more indigenous in nature.

2. Gandhara sculptures were primarily made of red sandstone, whereas Mathura sculptures used grey schist.

3. Mathura school of art exclusively sculpted Hindu deities, while the Gandhara school was associated with Buddhist iconography.

4. Buddha images in the Gandhara school show wavy hair, draped robes, and realistic expressions, whereas the Mathura school portrayed Buddha with a more spiritualistic appearance.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Question

Question

Answer 1

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

The Gandhara school was influenced by Greek (Hellenistic) art due to the region's contact with the Greco-Bactrian and Roman worlds. The Mathura school, on the other hand, was more indigenous and rooted in Indian traditions. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Gandhara sculptures were primarily made of grey schist or stucco, while Mathura sculptures used red sandstone. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
The Mathura school sculpted both Hindu deities (like Vishnu and Shiva) and Buddhist themes (Buddha and Bodhisattvas). The Gandhara school was primarily associated with Buddhist iconography, but it was not exclusive to it. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
Gandhara Buddha images exhibit Greco-Roman features like wavy hair, draped robes, and realistic expressions. In contrast, the Mathura school depicted Buddha with a more spiritual and Indianized appearance, including curly hair and a serene expression. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Additional Information

Gandhara vs. Mathura School of Art – Key Differences:

Feature	Gandhara School	Mathura School
Influence	Strong Greco-Roman (Hellenistic) influence	Indigenous Indian style
Material Used	Grey schist (soft stone, ideal for intricate carving)	Red sandstone (locally available in Mathura)
Depiction of Buddha	Realistic features – wavy hair, draped robes, facial expressions, muscular physique	Symbolic features – broad chest, simple clothing, divine expression
Main Deities	Mainly Buddhist – Buddha, Bodhisattvas, stupas	Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain deities (Vishnu, Shiva, Yakshas, Buddha, Jain Tirthankaras)
Artistic Style	Greco-Roman realism – naturalistic body features, detailed drapery, anatomical precision	Stylized Indian representation – less emphasis on realism, more spiritualistic aura
Hair & Facial Features	Curly/wavy hair, deep-set eyes, prominent nose, moustaches	Short curly hair, round face, exaggerated eyes, lack of moustache
Major Centers	Gandhara (Peshawar, Taxila) (Modern-day Pakistan & Afghanistan)	Mathura (Uttar Pradesh, India)
Time Period	Flourished under Kushan rulers (1st–5th century CE)	Developed under Kushans and Guptas (1st–6th century CE)
Patrons	Kushan rulers (Kanishka I), Indo-Greek rulers	Kushans, Guptas, and local rulers