Buddha Head

Art Institute of Chicago

Buddha Head

Afghanistan or PakistanLinkedCulture matchlcp-1de3166917b9

Date
3rd-5th century
Medium
Stucco with traces of pigment
Culture
Gandhara
Department
Arts of Asia
Institution
Art Institute of Chicago
Object ID
87206

From the Art Institute of Chicago record

This Buddha head 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 ) and tuft of hair between his eyes ( urna ) that represent overflowing wisdom. But they also modeled an individualized — rather than idealized — face with broad features, plush lips, and a slight left turn to the head. This naturalism would have been enhanced by painted details such as the eyes. The head was then attached to a robed body, standing or seated in meditation, which likely decorated a dome-shaped funerary monument ( stupa ) within a Buddhist monastic complex.

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Provenance & credit

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Credit line
James W. and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection
Provenance
Possibly with Spink and Son, London; sold to James W. Alsdorf (1913–1990) and Marilynn B. Alsdorf (1925–2019), Winnetka and Chicago, IL, Sept. 28, 1960 [invoice from Spink & Son; copy in curatorial object file]; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, Dec. 7, 1961.

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Object type
AAT300301253

Part of a LinkedCulture topic

  • Representative object from the topic Buddhist and Hindu Iconography
    Buddhist and Hindu Iconography

    These objects are connected by their representation of sacred figures and deities from Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions across Asian cultures, including sculptures, paintings, and ritual objects depicting buddhas,

    183 objects from 5 institutions

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