Head of a Buddha
This head from a nearly lifesize figure of the Buddha reflects the late Gupta artistic idiom. In an effort to represent the Buddha’s enlightenment and his inward-looking meditative nature, the artist abstracted and idealized his physical features, especially evident in the articulation of the eyes and the intersecting convex planes of his cheeks and forehead.
Artwork Details
- Title: Head of a Buddha
- Period: late Gupta period
- Date: late 5th–early 6th century
- Culture: India (Uttar Pradesh, Mathura)
- Medium: Red sandstone
- Dimensions: H. 10 in. (25.4 cm); W. 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm); D. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm)
On base: H. 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm) - Classification: Sculpture
- Credit Line: Gift of Doris Rubin, in memory of Harry Rubin, 1989
- Object Number: 1989.236.1
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
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late 5th century
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1st–2nd century
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3rd–early 4th century
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