Seated Amitābha
Unknown Artist
late 1500s–early 1600s
Medium
hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions
231.5 × 96 cm · painting only: 130.8 × 75 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of David S. Utterberg and the Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
Accession Number
1994.94
About this artwork
This magnificent Buddha, called Amitābha (literally, “infinite light”) is seated on a lotus pedestal with both palms facing up over crossed legs, suggesting that it is in deep meditation. In contrast to the richly ornamented throne on which the Buddha is seated, the figure itself is devoid of any jewelry or decorative attributes, emphasizing its enlightened status and detachment from worldly affairs. The lion head in the center of the pedestal is a motif from Central Asia, which can also be seen...