The museum
in Mathura was conceived and established in 1874 by F S Growse, the then
collector. Originally called the Curzon Museum of Archaeology, the name
changed to Government Museum after it celebrated its centenary in 1974.
Planned as a repository of local sculpture styles, the galleries trace the
evolution of the Mathura school of art. It is believed that the first
Buddha image emerged here. The sculptors were inspired by depictions of
meditating Jain tirthankaras and the earlier more robust yakshas and
yakshis to figuratively portray the Buddha.
Consequently one
sees the pattern of change and development in the Buddha image. The early
Buddhas and bodhisattvas were earthy and later, under the Guptas acquired
the familiar spiritual renderings of the Enlightened One. This impression
is evident in the sublime grace of the life size 5th century AD Buddha. It
is believed that the Mathura school flourished under the Kushana kings as
many royal statues were discovered. Of these the most outstanding is the
headless figure of Kanishka, dressed in central Asian robes, with feet
encased in large boots, set wide apart, holding a sword in one hand and
its sheath in the other. Excavations in and around Mathura have added to
the collection. The huge number of terracotta pieces include archaic
mother goddesses, plaques from the Sunga period and many images dating to
the Kushana and Gupta eras. The Goyindnagar site yielded a rich hoard of
magnificent Buddhist sculpture from the Kushana and Gupta periods. A dated
Gupta period epigraph identifies the site as the Viradatta Vihara. The
Govindnagar discoveries are extremely significant as they help establish
an almost complete chronology of the Buddhist pantheon as well as shows
the growth of the Mathura school which reached its zenith of perfection in
the 5th century AD.
Government Museum
Museum Road
Dampier
Park
Mathura 281 001
Timing: 10.00 to 5.00pm
Closed on
Mondays and government holidays.
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Government Museum, Mathura
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