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10. Head of Buddha Sakyamuni Cambodia, Baphuon 11th c. sandstone, fine natural weathered patina, height 42 cm. |
Although many sites and sculptures in the early Angkor period were dedicated to the gods of the Hindu pantheon, Buddhism was practiced at Angkor throughout the capital’s five hundred years of history. This fine powerful head is an impressive fragment of an important temple sculpture. The compassionate teaching of Buddhism is instinct in the expression of this more than life-size image of the historical Buddha Gautama Sakyamuni, who endeavoured to guide mankind along the eightfold path to enlightenment. The portrait is a significant icon of Khmer sculpture, representing the ideal image of Cambodia’s most revered figure. The features of the Buddha’s face are precise and well executed. The eyebrows are rendered by a pronounced arched line. The almond-shaped eyes are finely outlined with a double contour and have cavities, indicating that the eyes might originally been inlaid. The long sideburns and the curve of the lips establish a fine authoritative expression. Fine curls cover his head and ushnisha, the symbol of the Buddha’s great wisdom and state of enlightenment. Elongated earlobes reflect his royal origins. Fully modelled in the round, this head of Buddha has facial features which echo the typical Baphuon physiognomic type. This distinctive and elegant Khmer style is named after the famous temple situated in Angkor and dates from c.1010-1080. The soft and sensual expressions on the faces of Baphuon sculptures recall those of the images known from Banteay Srei (967-1000). In comparison with other pieces of the period, this rare head has deeply carved eyes and a serene expression, reminiscent of the portraits made in the Bayon period of Jayavarman VII, who identified himself with Buddha and Bodhisattva images. This head of Buddha is slightly different in volume, expressing the elegant Baphuon aesthetic, and is depicted with a highly modelled ushnisa. Although Buddhist images dating from before the Bayon period are rare compared to Hindu statues, a small number of similar pieces are known and published. The divine presence of this rare Buddha head derives from the perfection of volume and line, the skilfully carved ushnisha and curls and the finely delineated and realistic facial features. The deeply carved almond-shaped eyes intensify the feeling of ‘peace of mind’ and the attractive smile provides an air of charm and dignified liveliness. The head is a magnificent more than life-size example of the classical Baphuon period, symbolizing the artistic imagination of great Khmer art. Provenance: Private collection Belgium. Art Loss Register Certificate, Reference S00002780. M. Albanese, The Treasures of Angkor, White Star Publishers, Vercelli, Italy, 2006, p.30, pl. 30-31. Cambodia, Buddha Naga and Buddha head, Baphuon style, 11th century, height 38 cm, Musée Guimet, Paris, MG 18051. J. Auboyer, Khmer-Kunst. Hauptwerke aus dem Musée Guimet, Paris, Du Atlantis magazine, n°297, November 1965, p. 862, n°31. Cambodia, Sitting Buddha, Bayon style, 12th century, height 103 cm. Musée Guimet, Paris, MG 17483. E . C. Bunker and D. Latchford, Adoration and Glory. The Golden Age of Khmer Art, Chicago, 2004, p.236, n°81. Cambodia, Buddha, Baphuon style, second half of the 11th century, height 104 cm, National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, K 2885. J. Boisselier, La statuaire khmère et son évolution (EFEO 37), II, pl.96 A, Saigon, 1955. Cambodia, Buddha, Baphuon style, 11th century, height 75 cm. N . Dalsheimer, Les collections du musée de Phnom Penh, L’art du Cambodge ancien, Paris, 2001, p.142, n°63. Cambodia, Buddha Naga, Angkor Vat, second half of the 11th century, height 135 cm. Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, Cambodia, Buddha Naga, 11th century-The Nelson Atkins Museum, Kansas City. |