Walking Buddha
Kushan period, 3rd/4th century
Medium
Stucco
Dimensions
68 × 28.9 × 9.5 cm (26 3/4 × 11 3/8 × 3 3/4 in.)
Classification
stuccowork
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
153239
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This standing Buddha comes from the ancient region of Gandhara (present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan), known for its unique artistic style combining Greek naturalism with Indian symbolism. Here the artist depicted the Buddha with the traditional bump on his head (ushnisha), a mark of overflowing wisdom. But they also modeled a naturalistic face that evokes the thickset features of a Greek boxer and layered monastic robes (sanghati) that recall a Roman toga. The sculpture was likely attached to a...
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...