Mogao Cave 17: Seated Bodhisattva

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

This painting from the early 9th century features a seated Bodhisattva wearing a headdress over curled hair that hangs down past the shoulders. The nimbus is colored in a blend of orange and yellow and is outlined with spiral patterns. The Bodhisattva has pursed lips and downcast eyes. Wide shoulders taper down to a slim waist, giving the figure a unique appearance. Faintly drawn jewelry adorns the body. A transparent stole is tightly wound around the arms and across the chest. The Bodhisattva sits on a lotus throne, holding the stem of a flower in each hand.
The painting is similar in style to two other artworks, one portraying Kalika and the other depicting Sakyamuni Buddha, that were discovered in Cave 17 and are now kept in the British Museum. These three paintings all have brown borders, and the central figures have similarly colored nimbuses. Although the text at the bottom of this picture is missing, the other two images have inscriptions written in ancient Tibetan.