About this artwork
In the early 1940s, the renowned painter, connoisseur, and art historian Xie Zhiliu devoted more than a year to close research of the Mogao caves in Dunhuang, China’s grandest repository of Buddhist art. During his study, Xie copied several wall paintings to create his own images, including the one shown here. This deity’s finely rendered outline and fully rounded proportions evoke a style that is distinctive to Dunhuang murals datable to the 7th century. However, Xie clearly enhanced this figure with original artistic elements: naturalistic skin tones, carefully graded shading, and decorative scrollwork along the borders of the Buddha’s drapery folds.
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Status
- On View, Gallery 134
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Department
- Arts of Asia
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Artist
- Xie Zhiliu
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Title
- Buddha, after an image at the Mogao Caves, Dunhuang
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Place
- China (Artist's nationality:)
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Date
- 1944
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Medium
- Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper
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Dimensions
- 130 × 47.5 cm (51 3/16 × 18 3/4 in.); Mount: 236 × 66 cm (92 15/16 × 26 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. George Fan
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Reference Number
- 2004.749
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
