Cherubic Head
Unknown Artist
ca. 5th century
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 4 1/2 in. (11.5 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Cynthia Hazen Polsky, 1987
Accession Number
1987.424.23
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delightful terracotta *Cherubic Head*, dating to around the 5th century hails from the ancient Gandhara region in what is now Pakistan. Standing just 4½ inches (11.5 cm) high, this small-scale sculpture captures a youthful, plump face with an endearing, almost angelic expression—evoking the cherubs of later artistic traditions. Crafted by an unknown artist, it exemplifies the intimate, portable devotional art produced in this culturally vibrant crossroads. Gandhara was a melting pot of influences, where Hellenistic Greek styles from Alexander the Great's legacy mingled with local Indian ...