Gilt Bronze Maitreya Buddha Altarpiece, Northern Wei Dynasty

A gilt bronze standing Buddha stands within an openwork flaming mandorla and flame-tipped arch, with attendant figures and small kneeling and standing figures at the base. The surface shows gilding worn to reveal dark green patina. The composition is symmetrical and rises upward in a dense, ornate frame.

Artist

Unknown

Date

dated 524 (5th year of Zhengguang reign)

Medium

Gilt bronze

Source

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Size

3001 × 4000 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1938