Head of the Buddha
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Dove si trova «Head of the Buddha» oggi? Victoria and Albert Museum, Buddhism, Room 20, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art, Londra. Sì, esposta ora. Verificato 25 settembre 2026.
Londra, Regno Unito
SalaBuddhism, Room 20, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art
Aperto· fino alle 17:45
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- Fonte
- Il museo
Sulla scultura
This beautiful head of the Buddha was once part of a large-scale narrative panel modelled in high relief. It formed part of a life-size figure, probably of Gautama the Buddha as a young man. Like much Gandharan stucco, this head was originally richly polychromed, and traces of red remain on the lips, eyelids and hair.
The face was shaped from a mould. Examples of such moulds have been found in excavations at Gandharan sites, which indicates such figures were manufactured at the monasteries where they were installed. However, the hair and other features were modelled by hand. A flat surface on the reverse indicates that the head was attached to a surface behind rather than free-standing. The remaining wall fragment probably formed part of the Buddha’s nimbus.
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The head displays several of the characteristic auspicious marks (‘laksanas’) of the Buddha. These include the prominent hair-knot (‘ushnisha’), which here has been treated in a Graeco-Roman style unlike contemporary Indian styles. Another of the marks is the forehead mark (‘urna’). The elongated earlobes are an allusion to the Buddha’s former princely status when he wore pendant earrings.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Scheda
- Numero di inventario
- IM.3-1931
Che cosa raffigura
In catalogo
Fonti
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Immagine: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
