Artwork preview

Flying Celestial Apsara (Feitian 飛天)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The sculpture depicts a female figure carved from stone. The figure is positioned on a diamond-shaped relief plaque. The figure has her body positioned sideways, with her head on the left and her legs on the right. The woman's face is carved to look serene. She has her right arm bent at the elbow with her hand raised near her face. Her left arm is extended along her side. The hair on top of her head is styled in a tall coiffure. She has a garment wrapped around her body with folds carved into the fabric. The background of the relief features intricate carvings of swirling lines that resemble clouds or waves, and these carvings also border the edges of the plaque.

Artwork Details

Date
7th century
Medium
Earthenware with traces of pigment
Culture
China
Dimensions
468 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette