Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara)
Yuan/early Ming dynasty
Medium
Gilt bronze
Dimensions
35.6 × 15.7 × 8.1 cm (14 × 6 1/8 × 3 3/16 in.)
Classification
bronze
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
28158
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In its willowy proportions, as well as facial features and dress, this image exemplifies the Chinese manifestation of the princely Indian deity Avalokitesvara as the distinctively feminine Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin). Her necklaces of symmetrical loops and pendants closely resemble those of richly adorned images dating to the late 14th century, which spanned the Mongol Yuan dynasty (1279 1368) and China's return to native rule under the Ming (1368 1644). This image originally contained a strip o...
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...