隋 石雕胁侍立像|Buddhist attendant (possibly Kasyapa)

Art Historical Context

This striking sandstone sculpture depicts a Buddhist attendant, possibly the revered monk Mahakasyapa—one of the Buddha's closest disciples known for his ascetic wisdom—standing in serene devotion. Carved during the late 6th to 7th century in China, amid the Sui dynasty (581–618) or early Tang (618–907), it measures 39 inches tall and captures the transitional artistry of a pivotal era. The Sui briefly reunified China after centuries of division, fostering a boom in Buddhist patronage that influenced grand cave temples and imperial art. Expertly hewn from sandstone, the figure's flowing robes...