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
Museum record:
View original
Palette