The bodhisattva Maitreya

anoniem, anonymous, anoniem, anonymous, c. 200 - c. 300

Maitreya, the Buddha of the future, is making the abhaya mudra, or '˜fear not' gesture. His webbed fingers are a sign of his divine nature. This figure shows that Buddhist art in Gandhara, which was in contact via trade routes with regions around the Mediterranean Sea, was influenced by Greco-Roman sculpture. The drapery folds of the Maitreya's lower garment, for instance, recall Roman figures, while his hairstyle is based on representations of the Greek god Apollo.

  • Artwork typefigure, sculpture, Maitreya
  • Object numberAK-MAK-1188
  • Dimensionsheight 52 cm x width 30 cm x depth 12 cm
  • Physical characteristicsslate, polychrome, gilding