Investigations of a Gandharan stucco head of the Buddha at the Victoria and Albert Museum (IM.3-1931)

Main author: Verri, Giovanni
Other authors: Luczanits, Christian
Borges, Victor
Barnard, Nick
Clarke, John
Format: Journal Article           
Online access: Click here to view record


id eprints-33052
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description This study presents the results of a technical and art historical study of an important Gandharan head from the Victoria and Albert Museum. For several years, the head has played an important role in the history of Gandharan art, because of its high aesthetic qualities. However, the head has received limited scholarly attention since its first display in the 1930s. This study reviewed the head’s physical, curatorial and conservation history and determined its construction using non-invasive and non-contact investigative techniques (technical imaging, FTIR, XRF and FORS). The support consists of several layers of a lime- and gypsum-based plaster (gauging plaster) and only salient elements of the face (e.g. lips, eyes and hairline) and the hair were painted, with a high-quality red ochre and with an unidentified black pigment, respectively. A careful examination of the construction of the head allowed to determine that it probably belonged to an iconic representation of the Buddha, as opposed to a narrative scene.
format Journal Article
author Verri, Giovanni
author_facet Verri, Giovanni
Luczanits, Christian
Borges, Victor
Barnard, Nick
Clarke, John
authorStr Verri, Giovanni
author_letter Verri, Giovanni
author2 Luczanits, Christian
Borges, Victor
Barnard, Nick
Clarke, John
author2Str Luczanits, Christian
Borges, Victor
Barnard, Nick
Clarke, John
title Investigations of a Gandharan stucco head of the Buddha at the Victoria and Albert Museum (IM.3-1931)
publisher Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France
publishDate 2020
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/33052/