Powerfully modeled, the face framed by dense facial hair arranged into thick naturalistic tufts, wavy hair exuding from beneath his turban, a billowing mustache below a straight nose, and a full beard set around full lips. His stern expression with thick, furrowed brows, the wrinkle of his frown showing on his forehead.

Provenance: From the collection of an American gentleman. The private collection of Irene and Wolfgang Zacke (1942-2022), acquired from the above.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age, with wear, signs of weathering and erosion, few encrustations, obvious losses, small structural cracks, and minor flaking.

Weight: 3,872 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 19.5 cm (excl. stand), 31.8 cm (incl. stand)

This stucco head is a rare legacy of the ancient kingdom of Gandhara, encapsulating the rich cultural interplay and hybrid art styles derived from Hellenistic and Indian influences. It depicts the bodhisattva Vajrapani, the protector of Buddhism, represented with the iconography of the Greek god Hercules, who was widely venerated as a hero and savior in western Asia during the early centuries of the present era. As a great champion, yet one who nevertheless understood the human condition, Heracles was easily assimilated into Mahayana Buddhism. Like other Gandharan bodhisattvas, he is depicted as an earthly prince with his aristocratic bearing and posture, but the naturalistic face is reminiscent of Greco-Roman sculpture.

In addition to schist, stucco was a popular medium for sculpture in the ancient Gandhara region. A lightweight, malleable ware, stucco readily lends itself to delicate detailing and sensitive modeling, conveying an emotional presence exemplified in this fine head of Buddha. With idealized proportions, beatific expression, and flowing robes, the serene figure is the embodiment of compassion.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related terracotta head of Dionysos, dated to 4^th-5^th century Gandhara, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1979.507.2.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Amsterdam, 18 April 2005, lot 32
Price: EUR 18,000 or approx. EUR 29,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Gandhara stucco head of a man, circa 4^th century
Expert remark: Compare the related style with similarly modeled facial features and wavy beard and hair.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2 April 2019, lot 3105
Estimate: HKD 1,500,000 or approx. EUR 220,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A monumental terracotta statue of Vajrapani in the form of Hercules, Gandhara, 4^th-5^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling with similar facial features, stern expression, and wavy beard and hair. Note the size (91 cm).