Artwork preview

Stele with seated Buddha (Maitreya) and attendant bodhisattvas

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Beige stone carving of a stele depicting the seated Buddha, Maitreya, with attendant bodhisattvas. The carving is vertical and slightly irregularly shaped. The Buddha sits cross-legged with hands in lap. Behind the Buddha is a large circular halo. The Buddha's head is angled slightly right and down. The Buddha wears a crown, long earlobes, and a simple dhoti. The stele is decorated with carvings along the edges and on the top. There are two small carved lions on either side of a small table at the bottom. There are carved figures of people on either side of the stele, varying in size. The background of the image is gray.

Artwork Details

Date
dated 544 (2nd year of Wuding reign)
Medium
Alabaster
Culture
China
Dimensions
469 × 625 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette