Buddha with Radiate Halo and Mandorla

Buddha with Radiate Halo and Mandorla

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This image was likely used for personal veneration. The Buddha wears a typical Gandharan-style robe while his hair is reminiscent of images from Swat and Kashmir. Although the combined radiate halo and mandorla appears in Gandhara, this exact motif is found at the Afghan site of Bamiyan. The portability of such Buddhist images made them important vehicles for disseminating this hybrid Gandharan style.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Buddha with Radiate Halo and MandorlaBuddha with Radiate Halo and MandorlaBuddha with Radiate Halo and MandorlaBuddha with Radiate Halo and MandorlaBuddha with Radiate Halo and Mandorla

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.