When was "Door Guardian (Dvarapala)" created?

This artwork was created ca. 4th century.

What medium is "Door Guardian (Dvarapala)"?

Door Guardian (Dvarapala) is Stucco.

Is "Door Guardian (Dvarapala)" in the public domain?

Yes, Door Guardian (Dvarapala) is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Door Guardian (Dvarapala)

Unknown Artist

ca. 4th century

Medium

Stucco

Dimensions

H. 18 in. (45.7 cm); W. 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm)

Classification

Sculpture

Culture

Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara)

Department

Asian Art

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 1991

Accession Number

1991.132

Tags

MenGandhara

Art Historical Context

Step through the ancient portals of Gandhara with this striking *Door Guardian (Dvarala)*, a 4th-century stucco from the region of modern-day Pakistan. Standing about 18 inches tall, this fierce protector embodies the vigilant sentinels placed at temple entrances in Buddhist and Hindu architecture. Crafted by an unknown artist, it hails from the Gandhara culture, a vibrant crossroads of artistic traditions flourishing along the Silk Road. Gandharan art, renowned for its Greco-Buddhist fusion—blending Hellenistic realism with Indian spirituality—produced masterful sculptures like this one to w...

Door Guardian (Dvarapala)

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