In the early centuries AD, the small region of Gandhara (centred on what is now northern Pakistan) produced an extraordinary tradition of Buddhist art which eventually had an immense influence across Asia. Mainly produced to adorn monasteries and shrines, Gandharan sculptures celebrate the Buddha himself, the stories of his life and the many sacred characters of the Buddhist cosmos. Since this imagery was rediscovered in the nineteenth century, one of its most fascinating and puzzling aspects is the extent to which it draws on the conventions of Greek and Roman art, which originated thousands of kilometres to the west.

Inspired by the Gandhara Connections project at Oxford University’s Classical Art Research Centre, this book offers an introduction to Gandharan art and the mystery of its relationship with the Graeco-Roman world of the Mediterranean. It presents an accessible explanation of the ancient and modern contexts of Gandharan art, the state of scholarship on the subject, and guidance for further, in-depth study.

'In Gandharan Art and the Classical World: A Short Introduction, Peter Stewart takes on the difficult task to touch upon the complexity of Gandharan art within a concise and accessible academic introduction... While not critically reviewing classical Gandharan scholarship, the overview of the development of art historical Gandharan studies will be helpful and accessible for students as well as for those of general interest.' – Marike van Aerde (2024): Bryn Mawr Classical Review