Gandhara and Mathura School of Art: Download UPSC Notes PDF

The Difference Between Gandhara and Mathura School of Art lies in their distinct stylistic, thematic, and geographical characteristics. The Gandhara School of Art, influenced by Greco-Roman aesthetics, emphasizes naturalistic representations of the human form, primarily in Buddhist themes, using mediums like stucco and schist stone, flourishing in the Gandhara region. In contrast, the Mathura School of Art, rooted in Indian traditions, focuses on symbolic and iconic depictions. It encompasses a broader range of Hindu and Buddhist subjects, primarily using red sandstone and granite, emerging in the Mathura region of the Indian subcontinent.

The Gandhara and Mathura School of Art UPSC is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS Examination. This will be very useful for aspirants in the UPSC Prelims Exam.

In this article on the Difference between Gandhara and Mathura School of Art UPSC, we shall discuss the Gandhara and Mathura School of Art as well as the differences and the similarities between the Gandhara and Mathura School of Art.

About the Gandhara School of Art

The Gandhara School of Art emerged in the Gandhara region, which encompassed parts of modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan, during the Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, and Indo-Parthian periods (around the 1st century BCE to the 5th century CE). This school of art was heavily influenced by Greco-Roman and Persian artistic traditions. This resulted in a unique blend of Indian and Hellenistic elements.

The Gandhara School is particularly known for its naturalistic, detailed, and dynamic depictions of human figures, especially in the context of Buddhist themes. The sculptures often portrayed the life of the Buddha, as well as Bodhisattvas and other Buddhist deities. The artists of the Gandhara School used Gandhara schist, a type of grey-green stone, as their primary medium.

One of the defining characteristics of the Gandhara School was its Greco-Roman influence. This can be seen in the wavy hair, slim, athletic build, and overall naturalistic rendering of the figures. This contrasted with the more stylized and serene depictions of the Buddha and other figures in the Mathura School of Art, which had a stronger grounding in indigenous Indian artistic traditions.

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About the Mathura School of Art

The Mathura School of Art developed in the Mathura region, located in the modern-day state of Uttar Pradesh, India. This school of art emerged during the Kushana period (1st-3rd century CE). It was primarily influenced by indigenous Indian artistic traditions, with some Hellenistic elements.

The Mathura School is known for its stylized, elegant, and serene depictions of human figures. This includes Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain deities, as well as scenes from epics and royal figures. The artists of the Mathura School predominantly used local red sandstone as their medium.

One of the key features of the Mathura School was its more distinctly Indian aesthetic, with the Buddha and other figures portrayed with curly hair and a more rotund build, in contrast to the Greco-Roman features of the Gandhara School. The Mathura School also placed a greater emphasis on low relief and carved panels. This is as opposed to the extensive use of high relief and freestanding sculptures characteristic of the Gandhara School.

Despite the differences, the Mathura School maintained a more consistent, distinctly Indian style throughout its development. The Gandhara School underwent a gradual Indianization over time, incorporating more indigenous elements.

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Difference Between Gandhara and Mathura School of Art

The table below gives the difference between Mathura and Gandhara School of Art:

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Similarities Between Gandhara and Mathura School of Art

The Gandhara and Mathura schools of art, both significant in the history of Indian art, have distinct yet overlapping features. Here are some similarities between the two:

• Buddhist Influence: Both schools were heavily influenced by Buddhism, producing numerous sculptures and artworks depicting the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and various scenes from Buddhist lore.
• Iconography: The iconographic elements in the depictions of Buddha and other Buddhist figures are quite similar in both schools, adhering to the canonical features such as the ushnisha (a protuberance on the head symbolizing wisdom), urna (a tuft of hair between the eyebrows symbolizing vision), and elongated earlobes.
• Period: Both schools flourished around the same period, roughly from the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE. This was a time of significant cultural and artistic development in India.
• Use of Relief Work: Both Gandhara and Mathura schools extensively used relief work to depict scenes from the life of the Buddha and Jataka tales. These reliefs often adorned stupas and other religious structures.
• Material: Both schools utilized locally available materials for their sculptures. While Gandhara primarily used grey schist, Mathura predominantly used red sandstone. Despite the difference in materials, the techniques and artistic sensibilities show remarkable similarities.
• Representation of the Human Figure: In both Gandhara and Mathura art, human figures are depicted with realistic and naturalistic features. The depiction of drapery, anatomical precision, and expressive faces are common to both styles.
• Religious Themes: The predominant themes in both schools are religious, focusing primarily on Buddhism. This includes the depiction of Buddha's life, various Bodhisattvas, and other deities associated with Buddhism. 

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