Fragment of a relief with two figures,

2nd–3rd century CE

In the late fourth century BCE, Alexander the Great conquered the region in northwest Pakistan known in antiquity as Gandhara. The artistic vocabulary Alexander brought to the region flourished under succeeding regimes of Indo-Greek kings, ultimately mixing with ancient Indian and Iranian practices to form a distinct regional artistic tradition. With the adoption of Buddhism by Gandharan elites in the first centuries CE, local artists created a novel form of Buddhist statuary based on Hellenistic models. In this high-relief sculptural fragment, the flowing drapery and profile modeling of the two figures as well as the architectural framework and foliage are drawn from the traditions of Greco-Roman art.

Zoe Kwok, Nancy and Peter Lee Curator of Asian Art,
Princeton University Art Museum