Buddha
Tang dynasty (A.D. 618–907), c. 725/50
Medium
Limestone with traces of polychromy
Dimensions
219.7 × 111 cm (86 1/2 × 43 3/4 in.); Diam.: 111 cm (43 3/4 in.)
Classification
stone
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
86380
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Following its introduction from India centuries earlier, Buddhism flourished in China under the powerfully cosmopolitan Tang dynasty. Characteristic of Tang style in its robust, tapered physique, this monumental figure exhibits iconographic features distinctive to the Buddha: tightly curled hair covering a cranial mound symbolizes his enlightenment; and a forehead depression that originally held a stone or jewel represents wisdom. The articulated folds of the deity's flowing robe integrate India...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...