Head of Buddha

5th century

1 of 2

Object Label

In the fourth and fifth centuries, during the reign of the Gupta dynasty in northern India, sculptors formulated several of the features that would become standard for Buddha images. “Snail shell” curls replaced other hairstyles, and downcast eyes and a relaxed mouth became the norm. Smaller Buddha images in this style are known to have traveled to Thailand and other distant realms, where they were used as models for locally made icons.

Caption

Head of Buddha, 5th century. Red sandstone, 13 × 7 1/2 × 7 in. (33 × 19.1 × 17.8 cm) mount (overall): 12 1/2 × 6 × 8 in. (31.8 × 15.2 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Georgia and Michael de Havenon, 1998.178.4. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Title

Head of Buddha

Date

5th century

Period

Gupta Period

Geography

Place made: Mathura, India

Medium

Red sandstone

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

13 × 7 1/2 × 7 in. (33 × 19.1 × 17.8 cm) mount (overall): 12 1/2 × 6 × 8 in. (31.8 × 15.2 × 20.3 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Georgia and Michael de Havenon

Accession Number

1998.178.4

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

Frequent Art Questions

  • I've always been into Buddhist art and I was curious about the material and country of origin. I am wondering if there are specific features in this work that are identifying to a specific time period or country.

    This specific piece is made of red sandstone and comes from India during the Gupta Period which was approximately 320 to 550 CE.
    I have found that many depictions of the Buddha from the Gupta period featured the stretched ears, curled hair, wide-set mouth and those thin, arching eyebrows. The Buddha is shown as very introspective with his eyes looking downward in meditation.

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