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Sultanganj: Standing Buddha
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Sultanganj: Standing Buddha
INDIA, Bihar, Sultanganj; circa 6th–7th century; Bronze; H: 223 cm; Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, United Kingdom
This statue is larger than life-size and weighs over 1 t. It was created using the lost-wax method and is currently the largest bronze sculpture unearthed from India. Differences in design include broader shoulders, a longer nose, and a slight widow 's peak in the ringleted hair.
The Buddha wears a diaphanous monastic robe that covers both shoulders, and folds sparsely incised across the body. The robe falls over the arms and ripple in a gentle curve behind the calves. This and the left foot slightly in advance of the lifting right foot give a sense of forward movement. The Buddha 's right hand is raised in abhaya (fearlessness) mudra, while the left hand tightens the turn of the robe about that arm. |
