Medieval · Cleveland Museum of Art · 1966.116
Shakyamuni as an Ascetic
Unknown maker, early 1300s
Cleveland Museum of Art · Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund · Public domain
- Artist
- Unknown maker
- Date
- early 1300s
- Medium
- gilt bronze with polychromy
- Dimensions
- Overall: 44.2 x 31.8 cm (17 3/8 x 12 1/2 in.)
- Era
- Medieval
Why it matters
This statue is of monumental scale and exceptionally fine workmanship. A work of this size and quality was likely to have been made in the official workshops under imperial auspices. The image of the ascetic Shakyamuni (the historical Buddha) is both powerful and immediate. Shakyamuni is portrayed in a state of contemplative meditation with closed eyes and an inward smile. He leans forward, head and hands resting on an upraised knee. The representation speaks eloquently of his withdrawal from the world to attain self-realization. It recalls another famous iconic image in the Cleveland collection depicting Shakyamuni descending from the mountains after enlightenment, CMA 1970.2 .