PRIVATE COLLECTION
Jianguo Ren & Li Zhang’s Private Collection of Gandhara
Private Collection
JIANGUO REN & LI ZHANG
Private Collection of Gandhara
30 Jul - 6 Sep 2025
Ground Floor, 317 Pacific Highway, North Sydney NSW 2060
VIP PREVIEW
30 Jul - 1 Aug 2025
10 am - 6 pm
OPENING & MEET THE ARTIST
Saturday 2 Aug 2025
1 - 3 pm
CATALOGUE
Available soon
The Gandhara Collection: Introduction to Gandhara Art
The Gandhara Kingdom, which thrived from the 1st century BCE to the 5th century CE, holds a remarkable place in history as a cultural and artistic bridge between East and West. Nestled in a region that today covers parts of northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan, Gandhara stood at the heart of the ancient Silk Road—an essential artery of commerce and cultural exchange that connected the Hellenistic world, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
It was within this unique setting that Gandharan art flourished, reaching its height under the patronage of the Kushan Empire (circa 30–375 CE). The Gandharan art is instantly recognisable for its masterful blend of Greco-Roman realism, Persian detail, and Indian spirituality. Sculptures from this period are particularly admired for their naturalistic drapery, serene and contemplative expressions, and finely carved narrative panels that bring to life episodes from the Buddha’s journey.
The collection presented here was carefully assembled and acquired around the 1960s and 1970s, the collection carries significant historical value and is considered one of the finest private holdings of Gandharan art. Many of its pieces are comparable in quality and importance to those housed in some of the world’s most respected institutions.
It was within this unique setting that Gandharan art flourished, reaching its height under the patronage of the Kushan Empire (circa 30–375 CE). The Gandharan art is instantly recognisable for its masterful blend of Greco-Roman realism, Persian detail, and Indian spirituality. Sculptures from this period are particularly admired for their naturalistic drapery, serene and contemplative expressions, and finely carved narrative panels that bring to life episodes from the Buddha’s journey.
The collection presented here was carefully assembled and acquired around the 1960s and 1970s, the collection carries significant historical value and is considered one of the finest private holdings of Gandharan art. Many of its pieces are comparable in quality and importance to those housed in some of the world’s most respected institutions.
These exceptional pieces not only capture the artistic excellence of Gandhara but also reflect the spirit of cultural exchange that defined the ancient world. They offer us a rare and intimate window into a time when borders were fluid, ideas travelled freely, and art flourished at the intersection of great civilizations.
Large Gandharan Figure of Seated Buddha
1st to 3rd Century AD
Grandhara Kingdom
Schist
1st to 3rd Century AD
Grandhara Kingdom
Schist
72 x 47 x 17.5 cm
Nicely carved schist figure of the Buddha, seated on a throne of five lotus flowers, covering
whole body by wearing a large robe called sanghati. Both plams are folded in front of the lap, representing the forgetting of the material world in ultimate concentration in buddhist teaching called Dhyana Mudra.
Monumental Gandhara Bodhisattva Head of Prince Siddhartha
3rd Century AD
Grandhara Kingdom, Kushan School
Schist
47 x 27 x 18 cm
Very finely carved schist sculpture with serene features of a young prince—very lifeful facial expression, wide forehead, almond-shaped eyes, and hair elegantly tied on top of the head with a jewel band headdress. A very nice representation of a royal life without worry, as in Gandhara culture Prince Siddhartha or Bodhisattva Maitreya represents the Buddha’s transition from a righteous royal prince to an enlightened being.
In the later phase of the Kushan period, Gandhara sculptors tended to create larger-than-life portrayals of Buddha/Bodhisattva figures. This particular head must have been part of a figure at least 8–10 feet high.
Gandhara Schist Figure of Seated Buddha
2nd to 3rd Century AD
Grandhara Kingdom, Kushan Dynasty
Schist
59 x 40 x 13 cm
Expressively carved schist figure of the seated Buddha in Dhyanasana, with a very calm facial expression, performing the miracle of Sravasti by having flames coming from his shoulders and two protectors holding parasols on each side. The Buddha is seated on a downward lotus on the base, depicting the scene of four devotees around a fire temple.
After the Buddha achieved enlightenment, there was resentment from heretic schools, and the Buddha was challenged by heretic teachers and villagers to prove his enlightenment. The Buddha performs various miracles. This particular bust represents the miracle in which the Buddha rose into the air, water started gushing from his feet, and at the same time flames issued from his shoulders. The two figures to the left and right of the Buddha’s head are his protectors, the gods Indra and Brahma, carrying parasols.
Highly Important Gandharan Figure of Siddhartha in Emaciated State
2nd to 3rd Century AD
Gandhara Empire,Kushan Period
Schist
66 x 43 x 13 cm
Highly Important Gandharan Figure of Siddhartha in Emaciated State or fasting Buddha seated in dhyana mudra asana on a pedestal with his hands folded in his lap, his emaciated torso draped with a shawl across his arms, his face with sunken cheeks in a meditative expression, as per legends Siddhartha sat down under the bodhi tree and promise himself that he will not break his meditation until achieve Nirvana (enlightenment) as per account he done meditation for 40+ days and during this periodMara (demon) try to scare him with different weapons but Buddha keeps it calm and those scary thing tured into flowers and Buddha ultimately achieved Nirvana (enlightenment).
Unlike Buddha or bodhisattva representation in Gandhara, there are very few example of Emaciated Siddhartha. It is random opinion that may be due to importance, complexity or religious reasons of the subject, only master sculptors were allowed to carve this sculpture so there are very few example reported and extremely less in private collection.
Exquisite Gandharan Grey Schist Head of Prince Siddhartha (Bodhisattva)
2nd to 3rd Century AD
Grandhara Kingdom, Kushan School
Grey Schist
37 x 26 x 25 cm
Exquisite Gandharan grey schist head of Prince Siddhartha (Bodhisattva), presenting the Buddha’s previous life as a young and energetic prince. His head bears a complex turban decorated with lion and dragon-like figures. Very serene and lifeful facial expression, wide forehead, almond-shaped eyes, and bow-shaped lips.
In Gandhara culture, Prince Siddhartha or Bodhisattva Maitreya represents the Buddha’s transition from royal to enlightened being.
Gandhara Schist figure of Siddhartha or Thinking Buddha
3rd Century AD
Grandhara Kushan Dynasty
Schist
59 x 33 x 15 cm
Gandhara schist figure of young Prince Siddhartha in a pensive state, which is also called Siddhartha in the First Meditation, where the prince feels sad after learning about the suffering of people—this is the starting point toward the journey to Buddhahood.
Nicely carved young princely figure adorning royal robe and jewelry. Even though he was still a royal figure at this stage, Siddhartha is still considered a holy being and is represented with a nimbus (halo).
A Large Gandharan Hellenistic Corinthian Capital
1st Century BC
Gandhara Kingdom
Limestone
29 x 56 x 12 cm
A Large Gandharan Hellenistic Corinthian capitala fine example of a Gandharan column capital illustrates the extent of Greek influence in the Near East.Carved in the Corinthian foliate style,the capital incorporates a teaching Buddha and local flora such as palm leaves.
Very Rare sculpture. Only few examples recorded.
Very Large and Important Gandhara Stupa
2nd to 3rd Century AD
Grandhara Kingdom, Kushan Dynasty
Schist Stone
105 x 47 x 48 cm
A very large and important Gandhara stupa with Buddha in various asanas, an exceptional specimen of master sculpture craftsmanship in Gandhara culture. A perfect example of Greco-Buddhist (Hellenistic influence) stupa, which represents a Buddhist shrine, or often the reliquary or resting place of the holy ashes of the Buddha.
There are only few examples of stupas of this size and quality that have been recorded, and even fewer in private collections.
Large Gandhara Schist Sculpture of Buddha
2nd to 3rd Century AD
2nd to 3rd Century AD
Gandhara Empire,
Takht-i-Bahi
Schist
Takht-i-Bahi
Schist
94 x 36 x 18 cm
Very nicely carved schist sculpture of Buddha standing elegantly on the base displaying 2 worshippers with altar scene, very serene downcast facial expression, wearing long sanghati(monk robe) which covers whole body and elutching the robe's hem with left hand..
Gandharan Relief Panel from Caitya/Chaitya Arch
3rd Century AD
Gandhara Kingdom
Schist
90.1 x 88 x 15 cm
A Very rare and important Gandharan architectural relief panel from Caitya/Chaitya arch (Buddhist Shrine prayer room) subject representing the siddhartha in first meditation to feel the suffering of people which is also refer as pensive state, also accompanied by two Bodhisattvas in each side (Gandharan Triad) and on top section Buddha seated in Dharmachakra mudra with companions symbolising the first sermon to group of ascetics who were also his first disciples, the depiction also known as "turning the wheel of the law"
(dharmacakrapravartana).
A Caitya arch of this size is very rare and only few reported and even less in private collection, especially with this subject.
A Very Important Large Gandhara Schist Bust of Miracle of Buddha (Sravasti)
2nd to 3rd Century AD
Gandhara Empire, Kushan Dynasty
Grey Schist
54 x 59 x 23 cm
The bust illustrates one of the very important parts of Buddha's life, showing the miracle of Sravasti.
After Buddha achieved enlightenment, there was resentment from the heretic schools body and Buddha was challenged by heretic teachers and villagers to prove his enlightenment. Buddha performs various Miracles,the particular bust represents the miracle in which Buddha rose into the air and water start gushing from his feet and at the same time flames issued from his shoulders, the two figures to the left and right of Buddha's head are his protectors,the gods Indra and Brahma carrying parasols.
Very Important Gandharan Relief Depicting the Birth of Buddha
1st to 3rd Century AD
Grandhara Kingdom
Grey Schist
31.5 x 55 x 8 cm
Very important relief panel depicting the subject of the Birth of the Buddha and the Seven Steps. Queen Maya, the Buddha's mother, stands beneath a Sala-tree holding a branch, symbolising the Lumbini Forest, which is the birthplace of the Buddha.
Very rare and important relief panel.
Very rare and important relief panel.