Standing Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion

Standing Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This rare gold repoussé representation of Avalokiteshvara was fabricated from many pieces of fitted, worked gold. Both the high hairstyle (jatamukuta) and the deerskin over the figure's left shoulder are consistent with representations of Avalokiteshvara, a bodhisattva who offered compassion and protection to devotees. The thin, elongated body and the understated clothing are consistent with Si Thep production.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Standing Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite CompassionStanding Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite CompassionStanding Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite CompassionStanding Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite CompassionStanding Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion

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.