Standing Buddha

CHINA; Qing dynasty

This picture was painted by Jin Nong, one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou. It depicts a standing Buddha flanked by two inscriptions. The Buddha has arched eyebrows, downcast eyes, and a serene expression. A small usnisa rises from his thick black hair. His orange monastic robe covers both shoulders and curls into spirals at the bottom of the picture, covering his feet. Trembling brush strokes are used to portray the folds in the robe, creating a look similar to ancient stone carvings. The inscription on the left praises the Buddha, while the inscription on the right dates the painting to 1760, when Jin was 74 years old. It goes on to say that when he was painting this picture, Jin was aware of a trend in copying paintings into other mediums such as wood or stone, and hoped that someone would one day make a carving of this image.