Caption
Photography credit: Paula Rosenblum
Preview
Exhibition Opening Date
9-1-2021
Description
Ōmori Mitsumoto 大森光元 (1868-1912)
Buddha (Shakyamuni)
Bronze
Gift of Frank A. Gallagher III ’32
This cast bronze sculpture represents the Buddha (Shakyamuni) in his enlightened state, seated in the posture of meditation. The sensitive modeling of his flesh gives little hint of the musculature underneath but endows the body with a sense of solidity and mass. Short whorls of hair cover the head to identify the Buddha as a great spiritual teacher, and the cranial protuberance signals his profound wisdom and divinity. His hands rest in a form associated with Buddhist teachings. They represent the benevolent gift of life without fear that is the result of Buddhist enlightenment, as well as the fulfillment of the Buddha’s vow to attain enlightenment and teach it to all sentient beings.
Keywords
College of the Holy Cross, student curator, Cantor Resource Gallery, Asian export art