Beschreibung:

Ancient region of Kushan, 2nd-3rd century. Expressively carved with gaunt cheeks, deep-set sunken eyes centered by the urna, a long pointed nose and veined neck, the wavy locks of hair pulled up and over the ushnisha. Provenance: Old Belgian private collection, by repute acquired before circa 1991 and thence by descent in the same family. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Wear and losses, encrustations, nicks, scratches. Significant structural cracks as visible on images, as well as associated old fills and repairs. Weight: 5,471 g (incl. stand) Dimensions: Height 21.5 cm (the head) and 28 cm (incl. stand) Mounted on an associated metal stand. (2) The representation of the fasting Prince Siddhartha, also referred to as "Fasting Buddha," is considered one of the most iconic Gandharan Buddhist images. It depicts a nearly skeletal Siddhartha, who has become emaciated during his meditation. Driven by superhuman will, he is devoted to his quest for release from the endless cycle of suffering. Gandharan artists, beyond capturing the idealized physical beauty of the enlightened Buddha, were equally capable of dramatizing a subject. The deeply sunken eyeballs, taut skin, wasted muscles and prominent bones, all deliberately stylized, speak eloquently of his deprivations, demonstrating his capacity to exceed human limitations in his quest for spiritual transcendence. Literature comparison: Compare a related schist head of the Fasting Buddha, dated ca. 3rd-5th century, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1987.142.73, and a closely related schist head, dated 2nd-3rd century, in the collection of the British Museum, accession number 1907,1228.1. Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related but smaller (13.4 cm high) head of an emaciated Siddhartha, also dated 2nd-3rd century, at Christie’s New York in Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Works of Art on 18 March 2015, lot 4012, sold for USD 100,000. 健陀羅灰片岩苦修喬達摩頭像 貴霜王朝，二至三世紀。富有表現力的憔悴的臉頰，深陷的眼睛，雙眼之間有天眼，長而尖的鼻子和脈絡清晰的脖子，捲曲的頭髮成螺髻。 來源：比利時私人老收藏，據説購於1991年前，保存在同一家族至今。 品相：品相良好，與年齡相稱。 磨損和缺損、結殼、刻痕、劃痕。明顯的結構裂痕，可見於圖片中，有舊填充與修補。 重量：5,471 克 (含底座) 尺寸：高21.5 厘米 (頭) 與28 厘米 (含底座) 金屬底座 (2) 拍賣結果比較：一件二至三世紀，但稍小 (高13.4 厘米) 的苦修喬達摩，見紐約佳士得 Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Works of Art，2015年3月18日，lot 4012, 售價USD 100,000。