Seated Bodhisattva Maitreya (Buddha of the Future)

By May 1963 (when exhibited at the Fogg Art Museum), in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Morse; 1972, gifted by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Morse (New York, NY) to Elvehjem Art Center [now called Chazen Museum of Art]. [Last researched by Chazen staff October 2023]

• Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Handbook of the Collection." Elvehjem Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison, 1990. no. 9
• Chazen Museum of Art. "Artscene." Vol. 27, No. 1, January-June 2010. p. 5
• Fogg Art Museum. "Indian Sculpture from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Morse." Cambridge: Fogg Art Museum, 1963. p. 12, no. 3

• New Acquisitions from the Far East: Elvehjem Art Center, 11/5/1973–1/6/1974
• Indian Sculpture from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Morse: Fogg Art Museum, 5/20/1963–8/3/1963

This dark grey schist sculpture depicts a bare-chested Bodhisattva Maitreya facing forward and sitting in a cross-legged yogic form, with his hands resting in his lap. His hair is half-up in a bun on top of his head, and half-down in curled ringlets falling onto his shoulders. The Bodhisattva wears a robe of delicate fabric that is wrapped over his left shoulder and around his waist, draping over his feet. He wears intricate jewelry across his chest, and around his neck and arms. Framing Boddhisattva’s head and upper shoulders is a large circular halo. He sits atop a cushion, which itself is atop a pedestal that features a scene of smaller figures in poses of worship surrounding a central flaming lamp.

• Asia
• Sculpture
• Alt Text Accessible

The Chazen Museum of Art welcomes comments or inquiries about works in our collection. Please allow two–three weeks for a response. Chazen staff is not able to provide valuations or authentications and such inquiries cannot be answered.