Tree and Serpent: Early Buddhist Art in India, 200 BCE-400CE
Exhibition

Tree & Serpent: Early Buddhist Art in India, 200 BCE–400 CE

July 21–November 13, 2023
Previously on view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 999
Free with Museum admission
Stupa drum panel with protective serpent, Limestone, India,  Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
second half 1st century CE
Copy of ceiling paintings, Ajanta Cave 2, John Griffiths , and students of the Bombay School of Art, 1874–75 British, Oil on canvas, India, Ajanta, Maharashtra, western Deccan
John Griffiths
1874–75 CE
Railing pillar with naga Mucalinda protecting the Buddha, Sandstone, India, Pauni, Bhandara district, Maharashtra
India, Pauni, Bhandara district, Maharashtra
2nd–1st century BC
Railing coping, Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Railing coping with forest dwellers scaling or quarrying a rock face, Sandstone, India,  Bharhut Great Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Railing coping fragment with lotus bloom meander, Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna District, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna District, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Fragment of a railing coping with an unidentified jataka, Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Railing pillar with yaksha on makara, Sandstone, India, Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh
India, Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh
ca. 2nd century BCE
Railing pillar with naga Mucalinda protecting the buddhapada, Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Railing pillar fragment: yaksha with lotus vine emerging from its mouth, Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Railing pillar fragment: flowering vase of plenty, Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Railing pillar medallion: tree shrine marking Konāgamana Buddha's awakening, Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Railing pillar medallion with Mugapakkha-jataka, Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Pillar capital in the form of a winged lion, Sandstone, India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
1st–early 2nd century CE
Goddess of abundance, Sri Lakshmi, Red sandstone, India, Jamalpur, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
India, Jamalpur, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
2nd century CE
Balarama, Sandstone, India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
2nd–3rd century CE
Toy in the form of a makara, Terracotta, India, Uttar Pradesh, probably Kaushambi
India, Uttar Pradesh, probably Kaushambi
2nd–1st century BCE
Goddess who bestows riches, probably Sri Lakshmi, Molded terracotta, India, Chandraketugarh, West Bengal
India, Chandraketugarh, West Bengal
1st century BCE
Yaksha abducting a woman, Clay, India, Gangetic region, probably Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh
India, Gangetic region, probably Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh
1st century BCE
Karttikeya-Skanda, Terracotta, India, Gangetic region, north India
India, Gangetic region, north India
ca. 1st century BCE
Railing pillar with scenes of the Great Departure, Sandstone, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Tree spirit (yakshi salabhanjika), Mottled red sandstone, India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
2nd century CE
Railing pillar with yakshi and mithuna couple, Sandstone, India, Bharhut, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Railing pillar with lotus medallions and Jataka scenes, Sandstone, India, Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar
India, Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar
late 1st century BCE
Fragment of a railing coping: a stupa protected with handprints, Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Patravahaka yaksha, Sandstone, India, Madhya Pradesh
India, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 50 BCE
Yakshi, Limestone, India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
mid-2nd century BCE
Gateway architrave with makara, Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Relics from the Piprahwa stupa, Gold, semiprecious stones, rock crystal, pearls, and shell, India, Piprahwa Great Stupa, Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh
India, Piprahwa Great Stupa, Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh
ca. 240–200 BCE
Reliquary, Steatite, India, Sonari Stupa 2, Vidisha region, Madhya Pradesh
India, Sonari Stupa 2, Vidisha region, Madhya Pradesh
1st century BCE
Reliquary, Steatite, India, Sonari Stupa 2, Vidisha region, Madhya Pradesh
India, Sonari Stupa 2, Vidisha region, Madhya Pradesh
1st century BCE
Reliquary  in the shape of a stupa, Rock crystal, Sri Lanka, central or western regions
Sri Lanka, central or western regions
3rd–4th century CE
Reliquary  in the shape of a stupa, Rock crystal, Sri Lanka, central or western regions
Sri Lanka, central or western regions
3rd–4th century CE
Reliquary  in the shape of a stupa, Rock crystal, Sri Lanka, central or western regions
Sri Lanka, central or western regions
3rd–4th century CE
Model of a stupa, Cooper Union, New York
Cooper Union
2023
Fragment from a railing crossbar: nobleman riding an elephant, Sandstone, India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
1st century BCE
Dharma-wheel pilaster (dharmacakrastambha), Limestone, Andhra Pradesh, possibly Ghantasala, Krishna district
Andhra Pradesh, possibly Ghantasala, Krishna district
ca. early 3rd century CE
Railing pillar medallion: veneration of the Dharma-wheel (dharmacakra), Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Ayaka panel with depiction of an Andhra stupa, Limestone, India, Dhulikatta Great Stupa, Karimnagar district, Telangana
India, Dhulikatta Great Stupa, Karimnagar district, Telangana
1st century BCE
Dharmachakra, Copper alloy, India, Chausa, Shahabad district, Bihar
India, Chausa, Shahabad district, Bihar
ca. 200 CE
Buddha footprints (buddhapada), Limestone, India, Phanigiri, Suryapet district, Telangana
India, Phanigiri, Suryapet district, Telangana
late 3rd–4th century CE
Elephant Carrying Relics, Red sandstone, India (Bharhut)
India (Bharhut)
2nd century AD
Panel with devotees honoring the Dharma-wheel and nagas protecting the relics at Ramagrama stupa, Limestone, India, Dhulikata, Karimnagar District, Telangana
India, Dhulikata, Karimnagar District, Telangana
1st century BCE
Pillar abacus: elephants venerating the Rāmagrāma stupa, Limestone, India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
late 1st century CE
Drum panel with veneration of the buddhapada and empty throne, Limestone, India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
ca. 100 BCE
Stupa drum slab honoring the Buddha as a flaming pillar, Limestone, India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
3rd century CE
Drum panel with veneration of relics, Limestone, India, Dupadu Great Stupa, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Dupadu Great Stupa, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh
ca. 1st century CE
Drum panel with stupa veneration and seminal Buddha-life events, Limestone, India, Dupadu Great Stupa, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Dupadu Great Stupa, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh
ca. 1st century CE
Chair leg, Ivory, North or Northwest India
North or Northwest India
ca. 4th century CE
Chair leg, Ivory, North or Northwest India
North or Northwest India
ca. 4th century CE
Dome cornice with garland bearers, Limestone, India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
2nd century CE
Figurine of a yakshi or courtesan, Ivory, India, Western Deccan, probably Bhokardan, Maharashtra
India, Western Deccan, probably Bhokardan, Maharashtra
1st century CE (before 79 CE)
Poseidon (after Lysippos), Copper alloy, Rome
Rome
1st century CE
Handle of a jug (situla), Copper alloy, Rome
Rome
1st century CE
Emblema depicting Perseus and Andromeda, Copper alloy, Rome
Rome
1st century CE
Metal ring with rearing griffin, bull, lion, and human-headed creature, Copper alloy, India, Brahmapuri, Kolhapur, Satara District, Maharashtra
India, Brahmapuri, Kolhapur, Satara District, Maharashtra
ca. 2nd century CE
Elephant with four riders, Copper alloy, India, Kundangar, Kolhapur, Satara District, Maharashtra
India, Kundangar, Kolhapur, Satara District, Maharashtra
ca. 2nd century CE
Model bullock cart, Copper alloy, India, Kundangar, Kolhapur, Satara District, Maharashtra
India, Kundangar, Kolhapur, Satara District, Maharashtra
ca. 2nd century CE
Six auspicious emblems (mangalas), Copper alloy, India, Kundangar, Kolhapur, Satara District, Maharashtra
India, Kundangar, Kolhapur, Satara District, Maharashtra
ca. 2nd century CE
Ritual water vessel, Copper alloy, India, Kundangar, Kolhapur, Satara District, Maharashtra
India, Kundangar, Kolhapur, Satara District, Maharashtra
ca. 2nd century CE
One of a pair of medallions with portrait busts, Copper-nickel alloy, India, probably Maharashtra
India, probably Maharashtra
ca. 1st century CE
One of a pair of medallions with portrait busts, Copper-nickel alloy, India, probably Maharashtra
India, probably Maharashtra
ca. 1st century CE
Musée Guimet Decouvertes Archéologiques en Afghanistan et Indochine, Jean Buhot, Lithographic print mounted on linen, France
Jean Buhot
1938
Fragment of a railing coping: a winged griffin and youthful combatant, Limestone, India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
2nd–1st century BC
Fragment of a lion capital, Sandstone, India, Masarh, Shahabad district, Bihar
India, Masarh, Shahabad district, Bihar
4th–3rd century BCE
Vessel terminating in the forepart of a fantastic leonine creature, Gold, Achaemenid
Achaemenid
ca. 5th century BCE
Yaksha Padmanidhi, the wealth guardian with a lotus crown, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
3rd–4th century CE
Naga attendant holding a fly whisk, Limestone, India, probably Goli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, probably Goli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
ca. 3rd century CE
Head of a Yaksha, Sandstone, India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
1st century BCE
Mold depicting a charioteer and archer, Black clay, India, Pataliputra, Bihar
India, Pataliputra, Bihar
ca. 200 BCE
Bull figurine, Double-molded clay, India, Kondapur, Medak district, Telangana
India, Kondapur, Medak district, Telangana
1st–2nd century CE
Lion figurine, Double-molded clay, India, Kondapur, Medak district, Telangana
India, Kondapur, Medak district, Telangana
1st–2nd century CE
Ring-stone with palmettes and palms, Steatite, Northern India
Northern India
3rd–late 2nd century BCE
Ring-stone with goddesses and turtles, Steatite, Northern India
Northern India
3rd–late 2nd century BCE
Ring stone with goddesses and aquatic plants, Steatite, Northern India
Northern India
3rd–late 2nd century BCE
Female figurine, Clay, India, Patna, Bihar
India, Patna, Bihar
3rd–2nd century BCE
Female figurine, Clay, India, Patna, Bihar
India, Patna, Bihar
3rd–2nd century BCE
Stone disc, Steatite, Northern India
Northern India
ca. 3rd–late 2nd century BCE
Stone disc with frieze of animals, Steatite, Northern India
Northern India
ca. 3rd–late 2nd century BCE
Disc stone, Steatite, Northern India
Northern India
ca. 3rd–late 2nd century BCE
Disc stone, Steatite, Northern India
Northern India
ca. 3rd–late 2nd century BCE
Standing male figure, Clay, India, Patna, Bihar
India, Patna, Bihar
3rd–2nd century BCE
Fragment from a railing pillar with face of a yakshi, Sandstone, India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
ca. 150–100 BCE
Portrait of a donor (?), Sandstone, India, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh
India, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh
3rd–2nd century BCE
Portrait of a donor (?), Sandstone, India, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh
India, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh
2nd–1st century BCE
One from a Pair of Ear Ornaments (Prakaravapra Kundala), Gold, sheet, wire and granulation, India, Andhra Pradesh
India, Andhra Pradesh
ca. 1st century BCE–1st century CE
One from a Pair of Ear Ornaments (Prakaravapra Kundala), Gold, sheet, wire and granulation, India, Andhra Pradesh
India, Andhra Pradesh
ca. 1st century BCE–1st century CE
Head of yaksha, Sandstone, India, Sanchi Stupa 1, Bhopal district, Madhya Pradesh
India, Sanchi Stupa 1, Bhopal district, Madhya Pradesh
early 1st century CE
Interior view of Karle rock-cut caitya hall, Western Ghats, Lonavala, Maharashtra, W. A. Fulton, Oil on canvas
W. A. Fulton
1853
Drawings of the gateways at Sanchi, Frederick Charles Maisey  British, Pencil with opaque watercolor highlights on paper, India
Frederick Charles Maisey
1849–50 and 1850–51
Dome panel depicting a royal worshipper, Limestone, India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
second half 1st century CE
Celebrants venerating the empty throne, Limestone, India, Chandavaram Stupa 1, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Chandavaram Stupa 1, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh
late 1st–early 2nd century CE
Drum panel with scenes of the Great Departure and Temptation of the Buddha, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
first half 3rd century CE
Veneration of the flaming pillar, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, possibly Stupa Site 6, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Nagarjunakonda, possibly Stupa Site 6, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
late 3rd century CE
Dome panel with scene of transporting Prince Siddartha's headdress to heaven, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, attributed to Stupa Site 3, Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Nagarjunakonda, attributed to Stupa Site 3, Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh
late 3rd century CE
Stupa drum panel with naga protected Buddha, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh
India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh
late 3rd century CE
Head of a man, probably a yaksha, Limestone, India, Phanigiri, Suryapet district, Telangana
India, Phanigiri, Suryapet district, Telangana
late 3rd–4th century CE
Torana terminal with makara, lion, and rider, Limestone, India, reportedly Kesanapalli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, reportedly Kesanapalli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
3rd century CE
Platform panel (ayaka) or courtyard enclosure, Limestone, India, Phanigiri, Suryapet district, Telangana
India, Phanigiri, Suryapet district, Telangana
3rd–4th century CE
Drum slab with five Buddha life narratives, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District,  Andhra Pradesh
India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh
3rd century CE
Scene from the Mandhata-avadana, Limestone, India, probably Guntur-Krishna districts, Andhra Pradesh
India, probably Guntur-Krishna districts, Andhra Pradesh
2nd–3rd century CE
Ayaka cornice with three narrative scenes, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh
India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh
3rd century CE
Drum panel depicting a stupa with the Buddha’s descent from Trayastrimsa Heaven, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda Stupa Site 6, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Nagarjunakonda Stupa Site 6, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
late 3rd century CE
Torana architrave with lion makara, Limestone, India, Phanigiri, Suryapet District, Telangana
India, Phanigiri, Suryapet District, Telangana
3rd–4th century CE
Torana architrave with elephant makara, Limestone, India, Phanigiri, Suryapet District, Telangana
India, Phanigiri, Suryapet District, Telangana
3rd–4th century CE
Enthroned Buddha, Limestone, India, probably Goli stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, probably Goli stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
late 3rd century CE
Stupa panel with a mahapurusa figure, probably a yaksa honring the Buddha, Limestone, India, Kotta Nandayapalem, Karlapalem, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
India, Kotta Nandayapalem, Karlapalem, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
3rd century CE
Buddha, Limestone, India,  Andhra Pradesh
India, Andhra Pradesh
3rd century CE
Buddha, Limestone, India ,Alluru, Virulapadu, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh
India ,Alluru, Virulapadu, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh
3rd century CE
Buddha granting protection, Sandstone, India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
India, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
early 2nd century CE
Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh
India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh
late 3rd century CE
Temple step (“moonstone”), Granite (gneiss), Sri Lanka, central plateau, probably Anuradhapura
Sri Lanka, central plateau, probably Anuradhapura
ca. 8th century CE
Buddha, Limestone, India, Nelakondapalli, Khammam district, Telangana
India, Nelakondapalli, Khammam district, Telangana
3rd century CE
Buddha Shakyamuni granting boons, Copper alloy, India, Nelakondapalli, Khammam District, Telangana
India, Nelakondapalli, Khammam District, Telangana
late 5th–6th century CE
Buddha granting boons, Copper alloy, India, Buddham (Buddhapad), Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh
India, Buddham (Buddhapad), Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh
late 5th–6th century CE
Buddha offering protection, Copper alloy, India, unknown provenance in the Deccan, likely Andhra Pradesh
India, unknown provenance in the Deccan, likely Andhra Pradesh
5th century CE