Head of a Male Figure
- Cultural Region
- Mathura, 1st–3rd century
- Artist Culture
- Indian
- Dynasty
- Kushan dynasty, 1st–3rd century
- Date
- late 2nd century
- Material
- Sandstone
- from
- Mathura, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Asia
- Classification
- Sculpture, stone & mineral
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 224
- Dimensions
- 11 1/4 x 9 7/8 x 10 in. (28.6 x 25.1 x 25.4 cm)
- Credit Line
- Museum Purchase and Friends Endowment Fund
- Rights
- Contact Us
- Object Number
- 3:1970
NOTES
Compared to the idealized features of a Buddha, this figure’s relatively portly face, dynamic moustache, and engaging eyes convey a portrait of expressive personality. The hairstyle, consisting of S-shaped curls, helps to date this object to the latter half of the second century.
Like many Kusana objects, this fragment of a head is difficult to identify without its original body and context. Stylistic comparisons with more complete sculptures from the same period and region suggest that it might be a yaksa (nature spirit), or even the king of the yaksas, a deity called Kubera or Vaisravana. The full figure would probably have been installed in an architectural program consisting of other figures and motifs.
Provenance
by 1969 - 1970
Peter Marks, Works of Art, New York, NY, USA [1]
1970 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Peter Marks, Works of Art [2]
Notes:
[1] 3:1970 was shipped to the Museum from Peter Marks in October 1969 [shipping record E817].
[2] Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, City Art Museum, February 20, 1970.
Peter Marks, Works of Art, New York, NY, USA [1]
1970 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Peter Marks, Works of Art [2]
Notes:
[1] 3:1970 was shipped to the Museum from Peter Marks in October 1969 [shipping record E817].
[2] Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, City Art Museum, February 20, 1970.