Buddha

Art Historical Context

This exquisite gilt bronze sculpture of the Buddha, crafted by an unknown artist during Korea's Unified Silla dynasty676–935), dates to the 9th–10th century Standing just 2 inches (5.1 cm) tall, it exemplifies the refined artistry of this golden age, when Buddhism flourished as the dominant faith and inspired some of Korea's most elegant metalwork. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1917, it now graces the Asian Art collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The use of gilt bronze—a technique involving a mercury-gold amalgam fired onto a bronze core—creates a radiant golden sheen, symboli...