# Preaching Buddha

- By: Pakistan (Ancient region of Gandhara)
- Date: 3rd century
- Medium: Schist
- Classification: Sculpture
- Dimensions: 108 × 59.7 × 25.4 cm (42 1/2 × 23 1/2 × 10 in.)
- Culture: Gandhara
- Credit line: Gift of Marilynn B. Alsdorf
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/151085)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/70d8a9c0-a0fe-4712-e590-52cbf1a0e68a/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

This Buddha statue comes from the ancient region of Gandhara (present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan), known for its unique artistic style combining both Greek and Indian elements. Here the Buddha wears a monastic robe wrapped tightly around his left arm in a manner similar to togas worn by senators of the Roman Republic. But his hairstyle — tight “snail shell” curls — was characteristic of Buddha images made in Mathura (present-day northern India). These details were likely carried from one place to another by artists following royal courts across vast empires or sent on diplomatic missions to foreign lands.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0