Bronze figure of the Buddha
Shakyamuni
From eastern India
7th
century AD
This beautiful little bronze statue of the
Buddha Shakyamuni was created at a Buddhist monastery workshop in
eastern India, probably in the state of Bihar. It was made in the
first half of the seventh century shortly after the end of the
Gupta dynasty (fourth to sixth century AD) in what may be called a
'post-Gupta' style. It retains many of the features
typical of the Gupta period: the figure is soft, gentle and simple,
with heavy lidded, downcast eyes and 'snail shell'
curls. It has an emotional serenity generally lacking in such
figures of the preceding Kushan
period.
The statue is made
of bronze and features a finely carved head with stylized curls and
delicate features. The robes are folded and drawn across both
shoulders and 'wet drapery' defines the bodily form
beneath. The downward cast of the eyes indicates that this image
was designed to be installed in an elevated position, on an altar,
and, on occasions, to be carried in processions. It displays a
number of the supernatural marks of Buddhahood, including skull
protuberance and webbed
fingers.
In the history of
Indian art, this type of Buddha is important in the stylistic
development and spread of Indian cultural influence throughout
Asia. It is credited with creating the quintessential Buddha-type,
which spread and was copied throughout the Asian Buddhist world -
in Pala eastern India, in Licchavi Nepal, in Tang China, and among
the newly formed Hindu-Buddhist states of Southeast
Asia.
W. Zwalf (ed.), Buddhism: art and faith (London, The British Museum Press, 1985)
Von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes (Hong Kong, Visual Dharma Publications, 1981)