206. A GREY SCHIST RELIEF SCENE OF QUEEN MAYA'S JOURNEY AND THE BIRTH OF BUDDHA Ancient region of Gandhara, 2nd/3rd century 14 x 50 cm (5 1/2 x 19 3/4 in.) Provenance: Acquired in Kabul in the 1960s/70s by a French diplomat, thence in the family by descent. This Gandharan schist relief masterfully captures two significant episodes from the life of the Buddha: Queen Maya's journey to her parental home and the miraculous birth of Siddhartha Gautama. The composition is divided into two narrative panels, separated by Corinthian-style columns—a hallmark of Gandharan art, which harmoniously merges Greco-Roman motifs with Buddhist iconography. In the left scene, Queen Maya is depicted seated within a canopied palanquin, elegantly framed by a domed arch that emphasises her royal status. The palanquin is carried by attendants, while surrounding figures—likely royal courtiers and guards—appear in dynamic poses, conveying the grandeur and movement of the ceremonial procession arranged by King Suddhodana. In the right scene, the nativity scene unfolds beneath a stylised Sala tree. Queen Maya stands in the centre, grasping an overhead branch with her right hand in a gesture reminiscent of the salabhanjika yakshi, a symbol of fertility and feminine beauty. To her left stands her sister, Mahaprajapati, offering support during the childbirth. This familial intimacy is rendered with expressive yet restrained gestures. Several attendants surround the scene, enhancing the significant nature of the event. Most significantly, the newborn Buddha is being received by a divine figure, possibly Indra, wrapped in a sacred cloth, symbolising the sacred nature of the event. This scene closely parallels the relief at the Victoria and Albert Museum (IM.109-1927), which similarly portrays Queen Maya beneath a Sala tree, supported by Mahaprajapati, as the newborn Buddha is received by Indra in a sacred cloth.