Which one of the following sculptures invariably used green schist as the medium ?

Correct answer: 4) Gandhara sculptures. The Gandhara school characteristically carved Buddhist images in schist: authoritative summaries state that Gandharan sculpture used green phyllite/green schist and gray‑blue mica schist as primary stone media, often finished with paint or stucco [1]. This habitual use of schist is a defining technical trait that differentiates Gandhara from other contemporary schools—e.g., the Mathura tradition primarily employed red sandstone for its sculptures, not schist [2]. Archaeological and museum records likewise emphasize numerous finely worked schist images and reliefs attributed to the Gandharan tradition, confirming schist as its standard medium [3].

Sources

1. [1] https://www.britannica.com/art/Gandhara-art
2. [2] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > THINK ABOUT IT > p. 140
3. [3] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 137