Accession Number
1996/2.45

Title
Maitreya, head

Artist(s)
Artist Unknown, Gandhara (Ancient Pakistan and Afghanistan)

Object Creation Date
1st century - 2nd century

Medium & Support
stucco

Dimensions
14 1/2 in. ( 36.8 cm )

Credit Line
Gift of Mark and Iuliana Phillips

Label copy
In Buddhism, Maitreya is considered the Buddha of the future. He may be depicted as a bodhisattva—a Buddha-to-be, in the garb of an Indian prince, with long hair and jewels—or as a Buddha—an enlightened one, in a monk's robe and with a shaved head or short, curly hair. This head is an example of a very early image of Maitreya, and comes from Gandhara, a region at the northwestern frontiers of traditional India (parts of modern Pakistan and Afghanistan). Gandhara had been Hellenized under the rule of followers of Alexander the Great, and Greco-Roman ideals of beauty are seen in this sharply chiseled, youthful and meditative face.
M. Graybill, Senior Curator of Asian Art, June 2004

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Buddhism
Religious figures
bodhisattva
head
heads (animal components)
icons