Bodhisattva Maitreya. Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara. Afghanistan-Pakistan, 2nd-3rd century. Grey schist. H. 120 cm. Photo Jacques Barrère

According to Buddhist tradition Bodhisattva Maitreya's role is to appear on Earth, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma.
Here, he is standing and dressed in jewels. He wears a small stupa in his headdress that represents the stupa of the Buddha Sakyamuni's relics to help him identify it when his turn comes to lay claim to his succession. A khata is tied around his waist.

 Dancing Ganesha. Central India, 10th–11th century. Beige sandstone. H. 83 cm. Photo Jacques Barrère

The elephant deity is the Lord of success and destroyer of all evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth

Statue de Skanda. Southern India,  Vijayanagara dynasty, 13th-14th century. Granite. H. 120 cm. Photo Jacques Barrère

Skanda is the Hindu God of War, and the son of Shiva. When he is shown with six faces and twelve arms, as here, he is known as Shanmukha. The popularity of this deity is widespread in the Tamil region in southern India. Here he sits in the graceful lalitasana posture on the back of his peacock mount, which is standing on a lotus flower. The bird is gigantic and from his mouth hangs a snake. The two main hands of the god display the gestures of fearlessness and charity in the position of Abhaya Mudra. The other ten radiating hands hold various attributes

Jacques Barrère. Stand N°72. BRAFA'12 . Du 21 au 29 janvier 2012, à Tour & Taxis

La Galerie Jacques Barrère est située au coeur de Paris, sur la Rive-Gauche, entre le Pont des Arts et l’Odéon. Depuis de nombreuses années, elle organise des expositions pour promouvoir la culture  d’Extrême-Orient et en préserver les caractéristiques artistiques. Elle est spécialisée en objets d’art de Chine notamment en sculpture, archéologie, céramiques et arts décoratifs, ainsi qu’en sculpture et  porcelaines japonaises. Elle présente également de la statuaire Gandhara, ainsi que de l’Inde ou du Sud-Est asiatique. 

Antoine Barrère. 36 Rue Mazarine.  F-75006  Paris, France. T +33 (0)1 43 26 57 61 - F +33 (0)1 46 34 02 83 - www.artasie.com - jacques@barreresa.com & antoine@barreresa.com