Head of Buddha
3rd/4th century
Medium
Stucco
Dimensions
37.6 × 24.2 × 28.5 cm (14 7/8 × 9 1/2 × 11 3/16 in.)
Classification
bust/head
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
151095
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This Buddha head is made from stucco, a type of plaster that can be either pressed into molds for mass production or built up in layers and hand-modeled to create individualized details. Here the Buddha has standard features for the ancient region of Gandhara (present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan) such as deep-set half-lidded eyes, a serene smile, and the topknot-covered bump (ushnisha) on the crown of his head that represents overflowing wisdom. The head would have been painted, as indicated by...
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...