This head of Buddha is distinguished for its size, the quality of its craftsmanship and the nobility of its features. At once both austere and hieratic, the face offers a look of detached serenity. The almond-shaped eyes, delicately rounded, appear half-closed as a sign of introspection. The mouth is fleshy and wide, hinting to a discreet smile alluding to Buddha’s compassion for humanity. The earlobes are elongated as a sign of wisdom. The heavy eyebrows are modelled into semi-circles and form points at the sides of the face to the temples. “three folds of beauty”. The hair is fashioned into small tight curls, mimicking the line of the eyebrows across the forehead.

Provenance: Private French collection assembled between 1968 and 1972.
Acquired at Moreau-Gobard Gallery, Paris, 9th November, 1968.