Garlands bearers, typically in the form of small naked putto holding up a continuous garland very large in relation to their size, formed a popular ornamental design in , from the Greco-Roman world to India, with ramifications as far as China. In Europe they were revived in the Renaissance, and continued in later periods.
Greco-Roman art
The garland-bearer design was extremely popular in the Mediterranean.
It first appeared at the end of the Hellenistic period, and its popularity expanded during the
Roman period.
The design reached a peak of popularity in the 2nd century CE, adorning sarcophagi made in
Asia Minor to be sold in Rome.
Greek garland bearer designs tend to be continuous, and the garlands are furnished with leaves and stems.
Garland bearers were also particularly associated to the cult of Dionysos.
Marble sarcophagus with garlands and the myth of Theseus and Ariadne 130-150 CE Rome.jpg|Garland bearers on a Roman sarcophagus, 130-150 CE.
Greco-Roman garland bearers.jpg|Greco-Roman garland bearers, Rockefeller Museum
Garland bearers in Aphrodisias.jpg|Garland bearers on a sarcophagus, in Aphrodisias.
Marble sarcophagus with garlands 200-225 CE Tarsus, Cilicia (modern Turkey).jpg|Roman marble sarcophagus with segmented garlands decorated with flowers and fruits, 200-225 CE, Tarsus, Cilicia (modern Turkey).
Central Asia
File:Capital with a figure showing features of Buddha and Heracles 100-200 CE Old Termez Archaeological Museum.jpg|Capital with a figure showing features of Buddha and Heracles (100-200 CE), Old Termez Archaeological Museum.
Indian art
The
erotes or
putti holding garlands is one of the most common motif of the Greco-Buddhist art of
Gandhara.
According to John Boardman, they find their origin in Hellenistic designs, rather than Roman ones.
The garlands had an important role in decorating Buddhist stupas.
["The garland is a very significant ornament used for the purpose of decoration on the stupas by the devotees. The devotees who carry garlands are called the 'garland-bearers'" ]
Peshawar Museum Yakshas and Garlands.jpg|Yakshas holding Garlands, Peshawar Museum.
Garland and amorini, Gandhara, c. 2nd-3rd century AD, gray schist - Matsuoka Museum of Art - Tokyo, Japan - DSC07196.JPG|Garland and amorini, Gandhara, c. 2nd-3rd century CE
Garland bearers and Romaka Jataka 25-50 CE Mathura Museum.jpg|Garland bearers and Romaka Jataka (25-50 CE), Mathura Museum
AmaravatiScroll.JPG|Yaksha holding a garland, Amaravati stupa.
File:KanishkaBuddhaDetail2.JPG|Erotes, garland and the Buddha on the Kanishka casket
File:Ter, limestone coping fragment.jpg|Limestone coping fragment, Ter, Maharashtra.
File:Amaravati garland.jpg|Garland bearers, Amaravati stupa, India. Chennai Government Museum
China
The garland bearer design can be seen in Buddhist frescoes in Miran,
China, from the 3rd century CE.
File:Ruins of desert Cathay - personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China (1912) (14782860032).jpg|Garland bearers on a frescoe at Miran
File:Ruins of desert Cathay - personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China (1912) (14803067223).jpg|Garland bearers on a frescoe at Miran
