The "Standing Bodhisattva" of Gandhara style is in the collection of:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
The correct option is 2: The specific "Standing Bodhisattva" of the Gandhara style that is universally referenced in art history is held in the collection of the Boston Museum, which is officially known as the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), U.S.A. This sculpture, often identified as Bodhisattva Maitreya, is a masterful work carved from schist stone, epitomizing the Greco-Buddhist artistic fusion that defines the Gandhara school. The piece is distinguished by its detailed Hellenistic-style drapery (wet-fold technique), the naturalistic depiction of the human form, and the contemplative expression, making it a canonical example acquired by the museum early in the 20th century.

The incorrect option is 1:
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V\&A) in London possesses a significant and comprehensive collection of Indian and South Asian art, including numerous examples of Gandhara sculpture. However, the V\&A's collection is more noted for its breadth and variety of materials and periods than for this particular iconic "Standing Bodhisattva." While they offer an excellent study of the style, the most celebrated masterpiece associated with this question is definitively not housed there.

The incorrect option is 3:
The Indian Art Museum (Indian Museum) in Kolkata is one of the largest and oldest museums in India and is an essential repository of ancient Indian art, including a substantial body of Gandhara works. Given its location and historical role, it houses numerous important objects excavated in the subcontinent. Nevertheless, the specific, iconic "Standing Bodhisattva" that is taught in world art surveys as a single benchmark piece resides overseas, having been acquired during the early dispersal of such finds.

The incorrect option is 4:
The National Museum, New Delhi, has a commendable and historically crucial collection covering the entire spectrum of Indian art and archaeology, which naturally includes Gandhara sculptures. This museum is a vital educational resource in India. However, the celebrated and highly specific "Standing Bodhisattva" referred to in this multiple-choice question is a piece that has been famous in international art circles since its acquisition by the American museum in the early 1900s, confirming its absence from the New Delhi collection.