Buddha Within a Stupa
Unknown Artist
16th–17th century
Medium
On silk (?) canvas
Dimensions
37 1/2 x 24 in. (95.3 x 61 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture
Tibet
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1930
Accession Number
30.76.286
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, *Buddha Within a Stupa* is a captivating 16th–17th century Tibetan painting on silk (or possibly canvas), measuring 37½ x 24 inches. Created by an unknown artist, this work exemplifies the devotional artistry of Tibetan Buddhism, where images like this served as aids for meditation and worship. The central motif—a serene Buddha figure enshrined within a multi-tiered stupa—evokes the sacred architecture of Buddhist reliquaries, symbolizing the path to enlightenment and the cosmos itself. Stupas, dome-shaped monuments often adorn...