The Beginnings of the Buddha Image in India and Central Asia
Art History Lecture presented by Dr. Ronald M. Davidson
HOME / EVENTS / ART HISTORY LECTURES / RONALD DAVIDSON
The Beginnings of the Buddha Image in India and Central Asia
Presented by Dr. Ronald M. Davidson
Professor Emeritus in the Department of Religious Studies at Fairfield University, Connecticut
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Images of the Buddha are among the most widely distributed religious representations. While the Buddha himself was South Asian, the origins of the image of the Buddha remain something of a paradox. The earliest descriptions of him were extraordinary, but Indian Buddhists curiously decided not to represent the Buddha as a human figure for some centuries, only denoting him by symbols. Around the beginning of the Common Era, two traditions of the Buddha image suddenly emerged, essentially fully developed from the schools of Mathurā in North India and of Gandhāra, bordering Central Asia. What had happened to make this dramatic change palatable to the Buddhist communities in India and Central Asia? We will look at images of the Buddha configured by Alexander the Great’s incursions, by image-driven forms of prevailing religion in India, temples to Central Asian kings, and North Indian spirit cults. Working through these influences—and more—the Buddhists managed to convey the Buddha’s sense of spirituality and interiority, spreading a legacy across Asia.
About Dr. Ronald M. Davidson:
Dr. Ronald Davidson is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Religious Studies at Fairfield University, Connecticut. His BA, MA and PhD are from the University of California, Berkeley. His specialization is on the social and ritual history of Buddhism in India and early Tibet. He has lived and travelled extensively in India and elsewhere in Asia and has worked with Indians and Tibetans for more than a decade and a half, both in Asia and here in the United States. He has published five books and dozens of articles on Buddhism in India and Tibet. During his 34 years at Fairfield, he served as Chair of Religious Studies, Inaugural Director of the Humanities Institute, and Director of the School of the Humanities. He is currently writing another book, on the fifth to sixth centuries in India, focusing on the Buddhist ritual and social systems that arose in India and travelled on to China.
JOAN & IRWIN JACOBS
MUSIC ROOM
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
1008 Wall Street
La Jolla, CA 92037
LECTURE BEGINS AT 7:30 PM.
DOORS OPEN AT 7:00 PM.
INDIVIDUAL LECTURE:
$17 member / $22 nonmember
Online ticket sales are subject to ticketing fees.
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The lectures will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. Priority seating will be given to Donor level members and above.
These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each lecture.
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Payment must be received in order to reserve a spot at a lecture.
Your reservation is not complete until you receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your tickets have not been reserved. Please check your inbox and spam/junk folder or contact us at info@ljathenaeum.org or (858) 454-5872 to ensure your booking is finalized.
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ALL SALES ARE FINAL. No refunds or exchanges. In the event of a cancellation for which there is no rescheduled date, a refund for this ticket may be issued at the option of the management.
Banner image: Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, F1949b Gandhara, 2nd, 3rd cen CE
Art Deco: From Paris to New York, Los Angeles & Miami
Art History Lectures presented by Diane Kane Ph.D., AICP
HOME / EVENTS / ART HISTORY LECTURES / DIANE KANE
Art Deco: From Paris to New York, Los Angeles & Miami
Presented by Diane Kane
Thursdays, April 2, 9, 16 & 23, 2026
Art Deco, a structured, geometric, and elegant aesthetic, is strongly identified with urbanism, electricity, and modernity. An extension of early 20th century Art Nouveau, it gained full expression in the 1920s before morphing into 1930s Streamlined Moderne. Deco’s refined stylized forms appealed to architects, decorators, and manufacturers, who used new exotic and synthetic materials to produce luxury products, often with limited output. Nonetheless, Art Deco embodies a vibrant era marked by a thirst for novelty, speed, exoticism, and freedom. It touched every field of creation, from architecture and transportation, to furniture, fashion, jewelry, and graphic arts. Join Architectural Historian Diane Kane for a 100th Anniversary overview of the style, highlighting Art Deco’s Jazz Age expression in America. Discover how, from its origins in Paris, uniquely local identities in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami under the influence of high finance, radio, film, flappers—and cocktails!
About Diane Kane:
A specialist in 19th and 20th century American architecture and urban planning, Dr. Kane has taught Western and American art and architectural history and planning to both professional and general interest audiences for over 35 years. Institutions include the NewSchool of Architecture & Design, Design Institute of San Diego, San Diego State University, Cal Poly Pomona, UC San Diego, and UCLA Extension. Retired since 2007, she has travelled the world, visiting all 50 states and over 110 countries. This has sparked an interest in non-Western architecture and cross-cultural transference and innovation through lectures at Osher Institute of Lifelong Learning. In 2024, Dr. Kane received a SOHO Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in preservation and planning and a Jewel Award from the La Jolla Historical Society for her work on the La Jolla Park Coastal Historical District's nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.
JOAN & IRWIN JACOBS
MUSIC ROOM
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
1008 Wall Street
La Jolla, CA 92037
LECTURES BEGIN AT 7:30 PM.
DOORS OPEN AT 7:00 PM.
INDIVIDUAL LECTURES:
$17 member / $22 nonmember
SERIES OF 4 LECTURES:
$60 member / $80 nonmember
Online ticket sales are subject to ticketing fees.
-
The lectures will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. Priority seating will be given to Donor level members and above.
These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each lecture.
-
Payment must be received in order to reserve a spot at a lecture.
Your reservation is not complete until you receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your tickets have not been reserved. Please check your inbox and spam/junk folder or contact us at info@ljathenaeum.org or (858) 454-5872 to ensure your booking is finalized.
-
ALL SALES ARE FINAL. No refunds or exchanges. In the event of a cancellation for which there is no rescheduled date, a refund for this ticket may be issued at the option of the management.