Head of Buddha

Date:: 5th–6th century

Culture:: Afghanistan (probably Hadda)

Medium:: Stucco with traces of paint

Dimensions:: H. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm)

Classification:: Sculpture

Credit Line:: Rogers Fund, 1930

Accession Number:: 30.32.5

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 236

The well-preserved surface and traces of paint provide an idea of what this head looked like when it was being used in worship. The abstracted treatment of the eyes and the intersecting plains defining forehead, eyebrows, and nose are stylistic features shared with imagery produced in north India during the Gupta period. The fact that this north Indian way of presenting the Buddha had penetrated into Afghanistan suggests a shared Buddhist tradition.

[ Emil Trinkler , Bremen, Germany, excavated or purchased in Tibet or Turkestan during 1927–1928 Trinkler expedition; sold to Kleijkamp by 1930]; [ Jan Kleijkamp , New York, by 1930, sold to MMA]

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Heads in Sculpture from the Museum Collection," January 16, 1940–March 3, 1940.

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Masterpieces of Fifty Centuries," November 14, 1970–June 1, 1971.

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Pala-Sena Period," 2007.

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Buddhism Along the Silk Road," June 2, 2012–February 10, 2013.

Timelines
Central and North Asia, 1-500A.D.
Central and North Asia, 500-1000 A.D.

The Art of Gandhara in The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Department

Asian Art (35,454)

Object Type / Material

Geographic Location

Head of Buddha

Artist: Date: 5th–6th century
Accession Number: 30.32.5 Date: 5th–6th century Medium: Stucco with traces of paint Accession: 30.32.5 On view in: Gallery 236

The Spiritual Master Padmasambhava

Artist: Date: 14th century
Accession Number: 2012.459 Date: 14th century Medium: Copper alloy, with copper and silver inlay Accession: 2012.459 On view in: Gallery 253

Dragon-Handled Jug with Inscription

Artist: Date: late 15th– first quarter 16th century
Accession Number: 91.1.607 Date: late 15th– first quarter 16th century Medium: Brass; cast and turned, engraved, and inlaid with silver, gold, and black organic compound Accession: 91.1.607 On view in: Gallery 455

Standing Bodhisattva Maitreya

Artist: Date: early 8th century
Accession Number: 2003.593.3a, b Date: early 8th century Medium: Copper alloy, gilded and silvered, with silver inlay Accession: 2003.593.3a, b On view in: Gallery 237

Standing Figure with Jeweled Headdress

Artist: Date: 12th–early 13th century
Accession Number: 67.119 Date: 12th–early 13th century Medium: Gypsum plaster; modeled, carved, polychrome-painted, gilded Accession: 67.119 On view in: Gallery 453