Buddha Head

5th century

The aesthetic of Gupta art represents the Buddha in a state of inward-looking meditation, with eyes half-closed and downward gaze. In this, one of the earliest monumental portrayals of the figure, the Buddha still faces his disciples but is already no longer of this world. Carved in the red sandstone of the Sikri quarries, this larger than life-size head is highly representative of the artistic production of the Mathura area. The topknot is partially incomplete but all of the iconographic and stylistic characteristics are in place, including locks of hair curled towards the right, elongated ear lobes and doubly arched eyebrows.

Artwork Details