{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O127873"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O127873/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BL4483/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BL4483/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BL4483","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O127873/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O127873","accessionNumber":"IS.213-2006","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[{"title":"Seated Buddha","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This is a spectacular sculpture of great presence and historical importance. The over-life sized seated figure of the Buddha, legs crossed tightly in a strict meditative position (padmasana) and chest fully extended with yogic disciplined breath (prana), creates a powerful image. The figure wears a form-defining robe of untailored cloth (sanghati), worn in the monastic manner. The folds of the robes are deeply incised to give the entire figure a remarkable degree of surface animation. The missing hands were in all probability, and judging from extant examples, displaying the protective abaya-mudra gesture with the proper right, and holding the ends of the pleated monastic robes with the raised left hand.The figure is seated on an integrated unadorned plinth.\r\n\r\nThis sculpture belongs to a select group of related Buddha and Jina images. It compares most closely in terms of proportioning and the stylistic rendering of the robes, with three dated sculptures belonging to the same school. Two were excavated at Kausambi and dated equivalent to 161 AD. The third was recovered at Sravasti, to the east of Mathura, and is inscribed with a date equivalent to 213 AD.\r\n\r\nThe style of this Buddha, along with these dated examples, represents a clear second-phase in the development of the Buddha-type under the Kushan dynasty. The pure Mathura style begins in this phase - around the second half of the second century - to reflect a strong stylistic dialogue between the Buddhist schools of Mathura and Gandhara. The drawing of the robes over both shoulders, as opposed to the earlier Mathura convention of leaving one shoulder exposed, is an innovation of this period seen at both centres.","physicalDescription":"Pink mottled sandstone sculpture of seated male figure with pleated robes, missing head and hands.\r\nSeated Buddha, with highly developed physical displaying 'inner breath' (prana) beneath the articulated folds of the monastic robes.  The yogic posture is combined with a communicative Buddha type, gesturing to his followers.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"sandstone","id":"AAT11376"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Sculpted sandstone","categories":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[{"text":"Kushan","id":"AAT18886"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2007BL4483"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47F","id":"THES49793"},"free":"","case":"PL5","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"sculpture","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Mathura","id":"x34788"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"early 3rd century","earliest":"0200-01-01","latest":"0250-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with Art Fund support, and the assistance of The Anthony Gardner Memorial Fund and an anonymous donor","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"68.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"77","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"37","unit":"cm","qualifier":"maximum","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased with the assistance of the Art Fund, the Antony Gardner Memorial Fund, and a private donor.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Seated Buddha figure in pleated robes, torso with missing head and hands, pink mottled sandstone, Mathura, early 3rd century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Clarke, John: Arts of Asia, vol. 45, no. 5, September - October 2015, \"The Buddha image in Asia: Phase One of the Robert  H. N.Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art, p.114, pl. 1.\r\n"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Orientations; vol. 40. no. 4; May 2009; The Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum.\r\nJohn Guy; Adoring the Stupa, Adoring the Buddha:  Kushan Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum, p.49"},{"reference":{"text":"Guy, John <i>Indian temple sculpture </i>. London: V&A Publications, 2007","id":"AUTH339668"},"details":"p.20, pl.10","free":""}],"production":"Mathura style, Uttar Pradesh, northern India, possibly the region of Kausambi.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Torso of a Seated Buddha\r\nAD 200–50\r\nKushan dynasty\r\nMathura, Uttar Pradesh, North India\r\nSandstone\r\nSome of the earliest images of the Buddha were\r\ncreated at Mathura. As with other early images, the\r\nBuddha’s chest is fully expanded with yogic breath\r\nor prana. He wears an outer monastic robe (sanghati)\r\ndrawn up over both shoulders. His now missing right\r\nhand was probably raised in a gesture bestowing\r\nfreedom from fear (abhaya mudra).\r\nPurchased with the assistance of The Art Fund\r\nand the Anthony Gardner Memorial Fund\r\nMuseum no. IS.213-2006\r\n200–50","date":{"text":"1/4/2009","earliest":"2009-04-01","latest":"2009-04-01"}},{"text":"Torso of Seated Buddha\r\nAD 200–250\r\nKushan dynasty\r\nSome of the earliest images of the Buddha were created\r\nat Mathura in northern India. As with this figure, they\r\noften showed the Buddha’s chest fully expanded with\r\nyogic breath, or prana, representing spiritual power. The\r\nnow missing right hand was probably raised in a gesture\r\nbestowing freedom from fear (abhaya mudra). Early\r\nBuddhist images were probably inspired by the images\r\nof kings and nature spirits also made in North India then,\r\nwith the same expanded chests and raised right hands.\r\nMathura, Uttar Pradesh, North India\r\nSandstone\r\nMuseum no. IS.213-2006","date":{"text":"03/08/2015","earliest":"2015-08-03","latest":"2015-08-03"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.213-2006"],"accessionNumberNum":"213","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":2006,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN4752","2019LT1998","2019LW1057"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-08","recordCreationDate":"2006-09-20","availableToBook":false}}