Nimogram: Life of the Buddha - Departure and Renunciation

PAKISTAN, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Swat

Prince Siddhartha occupies the center of this composition. He is depicted riding through the city gate on his beloved steed, Kanthaka. A deity lifts the horse from beneath to prevent its hooves from making noise and arousing attention and Chandaka, the groom, strides beside the prince. The other figures portray the usual daily life in the palace. The squared columns at both ends are carved with reverential figures whose palms are joined. The nimbus of the prince’s future attainment is already around his head. The foreshortened perspective differs from usual depictions that show the Prince in profile. Because the carving is in soapstone, which is easier to work, the facial expressions in this piece are softer and the postures suppler.