Garland bearers
Garlands bearers, typically in the form of small naked putti holding up a continuous garland very large in relation to their size, formed a popular ornamental design in classical arts, from the Greco-Roman world to India, with ramifications as far as China. In Europe they were revived in the Renaissance, and continued in later periods.
Greco-Roman art
The garland-bearer design was extremely popular in the Mediterranean.[1] It first appeared at the end of the Hellenistic period, and its popularity expanded during the Roman period.[1] The design reached a peak of popularity in the 2nd century AD, adorning sarcophagi made in Asia Minor to be sold in Rome.[1]
Greek garland bearer designs tend to be continuous, and the garlands are furnished with leaves and stems.[1] Roman garland bearer designs are segmented and often use flowers and fruits for decoration.[1]
Garland bearers were also particularly associated to the cult of Dyonisos.[2]
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Marble sarcophagus with garlands and the myth of Theseus and Ariadne 130-150 AD Rome.jpg
Garland bearers on a Roman sarcophagus, 130-150 AD.
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Greco-Roman garland bearers.jpg
Greco-Roman garland bearers, Rockefeller Museum
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Garland bearers in Aphrodisias.jpg
Garland bearers on a sarcophagus, in Aphrodisias.
Central Asia
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Capital with a figure showing features of Buddha and Heracles 100-200 AD Old Termez Archaeological Museum.jpg
Capital with a figure showing features of Buddha and Heracles (100-200 AD), Old Termez Archaeological Museum.
Indian art
The erotes or putti holding garlands is one of the most common motif of the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara.[1] According to John Boardman, they find their origin in Hellenistic designs, rather than Roman ones.[1] The garlands had an important role in decorating Buddhist stupas.[4]
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Peshawar Museum Yakshas and Garlands.jpg
Yakshas holding Garlands, Peshawar Museum.
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Garland and amorini, Gandhara, c. 2nd-3rd century AD, gray schist - Matsuoka Museum of Art - Tokyo, Japan - DSC07196.JPG
Garland and amorini, Gandhara, c. 2nd-3rd century AD
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Garland bearers and Romaka Jataka 25-50 AD Mathura Museum.jpg
Garland bearers and Romaka Jataka (25-50 AD), Mathura Museum
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Yaksha holding a garland, Amaravati stupa.
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Erotes, garland and the Buddha on the Kanishka casket
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Ter, limestone coping fragment.jpg
Limestone coping fragment, Ter, Maharashtra.
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Amaravati garland.jpg
Garland bearers, Amaravati stupa, India. Chennai Government Museum
China
The garland bearer design can be seen in Buddhist frescoes in Miran, China, from the 3rd century AD.
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Ruins of desert Cathay - personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China (1912) (14782860032).jpg
Garland bearers on a frescoe at Miran
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Ruins of desert Cathay - personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China (1912) (14803067223).jpg
Garland bearers on a frescoe at Miran
References
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