NORTHERN QI DYNASTY (AD 550-577)

Stylistically, this large standing figure of Buddha is a fine representation of Buddha figures of Northern Qi date, and its dignified, upright stance combined with the simplicity of the robes that cling to the body show the strong influence of the earlier Gupta style from Sarnath, India. The small mouth and thin nose, the large, elongated ears with flat, unpierced lobes, and the whorl-like curls are also all characteristic of the Northern Qi style.

The present figure shown standing with the right hand raised palm outward in the preaching gesture, abhaya mudra, which implies "do not fear," is dressed in the thin, layered robes of a monk. These robes, each a long, rectangular piece of cloth that is wrapped around or draped over the body in a prescribed fashion, are known in Sanskrit as the sanghati, an outer robe that covers both shoulders and the chest, the uttarasanga, and the antaravasaka, which are the under robes. The antaravasaka, or dhoti, is the inner robe that covers the lower body from the waist to just above the ankles. This is worn under the other inner robe, the uttarasanga, which covers the left shoulder and crosses the chest diagonally, but leaves the right shoulder and right arm bare and falls short of the lower edge of the dhoti. The present figure appears to wear these two robes in the prescribed manner, but not the sanghati, and the folds of the dhoti are visible both in front and in back below the lower edge of the uttarasanga. While the right hand is held in abhaya mudra, the lowered left hand, shown with the back of the hand facing outward, can be seen to hold the edge of the uttarasanga.

The present figure was originally painted, with gold applied to the face, chest and upper right arm. The drapery of the thin fabric of the robes is rendered in carved single or double lines rather than carved in relief, or absent altogether. On the present figure only the faintest traces of pigment remain, as well as accretions on the back of the robe that suggest that it was painted with a patchwork pattern. A grey limestone figure of Buddha of Northern Qi date, but of smaller size (70.5 cm. high), shown standing in a similar pose and also wearing a robe that leaves the right shoulder bare and is defined only with paint, was sold at Christie's New York, 22 March 2019, lot 1610.

A very similar but smaller figure (142 cm. high), which has the right hand raised in abhaya mudra, the left in varada mudra, is illustrated in Ancient Asian Sculptures from the Matsuoka Collection, Tokyo, 1994, p. 96, pl. 52, where it is dated Northern and Southern dynasties, 6th century. (Fig. 1) The face, hair, ears and slender profile are very similar to those of the present figure, as are the carved details of the dhoti that hangs below the lower edge of the uttarasanga.