Please complete the form to email this item.

Sculpture - Buddha

Buddha

  • Object:

    Sculpture

  • Place of origin:

    Sri Lanka (made)

  • Date:

    7th century (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Dolomite marble

  • Museum number:

    IS.476-1950

  • Gallery location:

    Buddhist Sculpture, room 20, case WN

  • Download image

Monumental images of the Buddha in this style are first associated with the early Buddhist sites of Andhra Pradesh, particularly those of Amaravati (2nd-3rd centuries AD). It was practised in this coastal region of southern India over an extended period, and had a widespread impact on the development on the style of Buddha images, most notably in Sri Lanka and with western Indonesian and Malay regions of Southeast Asia. The style appears at Anuradhapura, the Buddhist capital of Sri Lanka, from around the 4th century and persists until late into the Anuradhapura period (7th and 8th centuries). Sri Lanka versions of this image can generally be distinguished from their Indian models by the absence of the forehead mark (urna), one of the Buddha's superhuman marks (laksanas) and by the distinctive stone utilised by the Anuradhapura sculptors which is coarser than its Indian equivalent, thus not permitting the quality of finish achieved by the Indian artists.

The original left hand would have been raised in the abhayamudra gesture, denoting benevolent reassurance extended by the Buddha, as witnessed most spectacularly in the colossal rock-cut Buddha image at Avukana, in central Sri Lanka. Drill holes in the lower garment indicate the dowelling of the hand and garment folds, possibly an early repair. The hollow eyes reflect the practice described in the early chronicles of inserting crystal in the eyes and re-setting it periodically to revitalise the image.

Physical description

The weathered figure of the standing Buddha is without a base. The monk's robe falls to the ground revealing the body beneath in a series of diagonally slanting parallel folds. The robe is draped over his left shoulder and falls over his left arm in a cascade of vertical narrow parallel folds to the ground where it spreads out in a fishtail. There are dowel holes at the wrist with two further smaller ones below for a missing hand and the edge of his robe below. The face is rounded with flattened snail curls depicting his hair which is topped with a flattened bun-like ushnisha.

Place of Origin

Sri Lanka (made)

Date

7th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Dolomite marble

Dimensions

Height: 175 cm, Width: 50 cm, Depth: 22 cm, Weight: 880 kg

Object history note

Gifted by Wimbledon Borough Council, originally belonged to Lord Mexborough who had placed this in his grounds at Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon (now part of Wimbledon Common).

Historical context note

Monumental images of the Buddha in this style are first associated with the early Buddhist sites of Andhra Pradesh, particularly those of Amaravati (2nd - 3rd centuries AD. The style appears at Anuradhapura, the Buddhist capital of Sri Lanka, from around the 4th century and persists until late into the Anuradhapura period. Sri Lanka versions of this image can genearlly be distinguished from their Indian models by the absence of the forehead mark (urna), one of the Buddha's superhuman marks (lakshanas), and by the distinctive stone utilised by the Anuradhapura sculptors. Drill holes in the lower garment indicate the dowling of the hand and garment folds, possibly an early repair. The hollow eyes reflect the practice described in the early chronicles of inserting crystal in the eyes and re-setting them periodically to revitalize the image.

Descriptive line

Buddha, dolomite marble, Sri Lanka, 7th century

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Barrett, D., 'The later school of Amaravati and its influences. Art and letters ', Journal of Royal India Society, London, Vol. XXVIII, 1954.

Materials

Dolomite

Techniques

Carving

Subjects depicted

Buddhist

Categories

Sculpture; Buddhism

Collection code

SSEA

Download image
Qr_O24980
Ajax-loader