A small figurine of a bull, China, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
This sculpture probably depicts Cupid, the god of love, who was stung by a bee after stealing some honey. The incident is described in a poem attributed to the Greek poet Theocritus, who lived in the 3rd centur More
Used as a grave offering, this figurine was not actually naked. It was originally a standing figure, but its arms and lower body have been lost, along with the actual clothes on the sculpture. Attention was lav More
Public domain photo of a 3d object, China, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Ornament in crème-kleurige jade; vermoedelijk staartfragment vaneen fabeldier. Public domain photograph of stone archaeological object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Ornament in lichtbruine jade; gebogen vorm, uiteinden: fabeldierkop en scherpe punt. Fijne versieringen.
Vogel (duif?). Public domain photograph of stone archaeological object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Beeld van staande Boeddha. Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
A female nature spirit (yakshi) stands beneath a tree. On her left shoulder she is carrying a basket with toilet articles. The fabric of her clothing is diaphanous, so that it clearly reveals the luscious curve More
Voorste gedeelte van een hoofd in rood en geel gestippeld zandsteen.
This stone is carved with two scenes from the life of the Buddha, when he was still a prince. On the front, he is sending his carriage driver and horse back to the family palace from which he has just fled. He More
Episode uit Boeddha's leven (vertrek uit het vaderlijk paleis op het paard Kantaka).
Een relief twee boeddhistische voorstellingen. Public domain photograph of a sculpture, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Episode uit het leven van Boeddha; hoort bij AK-MAK-1186. Uitgevoerd in zandsteen (rood met gele vlekken).
Helft van een achtkantige zuil; relief met drie dwergen die een guirlande dragen.
The protuberance or topknot on the head (ushnisha) and the raised spot on the forehead (urna) are standard features of the Buddha. The wavy hair combed back from the face is characteristic of Buddha figures fro More
Figuur van een kameel met zadeltassen. Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, will appear during the following world cycle and rule an earthly paradise as successor to the Buddha. At present he is still in his heaven, awaiting his descent to earth. Thi More
Fantasievorm van zittend leeuw. Dvaravatistijl. Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
This earthenware figure may have been based on a bronze model. The relief dates from the earliest period of Buddhist sculpture in China. Buddhism entered China from India around 150 AD. Indian influence is stil More
The word buddha means ‘the enlightened one’ in Sanskrit. This head was originally part of a complete body. The marble is smooth and delicately carved, the facial features in particular are elegantly executed. W More
Kop van een Bodhisattva. Public domain photograph of Asian sculpture, Buddhist art, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Penucup, reliëf, tufsteen. Public domain photograph of Asian sculpture, Buddhist art, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Ganesha, with the head of an elephant, is the son of the Hindu deity Shiva. He holds prayer beads in his right upper hand, while his trunk bends downwards to grasp some treats from a small bowl. The axe in his More
Kop van een Bodhisattva. Op sokkel. Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
During the Tang dynasty the route to India attracted many travellers, including Chinese Buddhist monks on pilgrimages to the region where the Buddha had once preached. Near this route were the caves of Mount Ti More
Miniatuurstupa, onderste gedeelte ruw gevormd, taps toelopend naar beneden, bovenste helft is de eigenlijke stupa.
Kop van Boeddha Shakyamuni van grijze kalksteen; neus ontbreekt. Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Tijger gemodelleerd in leem op een houten voetstuk. Public domain photograph of wood sculpture, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Kop, vermoedelijk fragment van reliëf van de Borobudur. Public domain photograph of a head sculpture, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Kop uit een der nissen van bovenste deel van Candi Bima, Dieng.
Fragment van een Boeddha-kop van zwarte kalksteen; slechts de rechtergezichtshelft is behouden.
Vishnu is represented here with two extra heads, that of a lion and that of a boar. Originally he also had four arms. This manifestation of the Hindu god was especially popular in Kashmir between the 8th and 10 More
Kop uit een reliëf van de Borobudur. Public domain photograph of stone archaeological object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
This small figure is represented in an active pose, with his right knee drawn up and right arm flung across his body. The moustache and broad dagger on his back are features of Mahakala, Shiva’s doorkeeper, but More
The makara is a mythical creature associated with water. In Central Java, they often stood guard at temple entrances. This example has the muzzle of a dragon, the trunk of an elephant and the horns of a ram. Se More
This head probably comes from one of the 504 Buddha statues placed on and around the great Buddhist monument of Borobudur. All these figures represent the Buddha seated, with his eyes cast down. The raised spot More
This monster – who is traditionally identifed with the demon Kala – protected the entrances to Hindu and Buddhist temples against evil spirits. The stone was once placed above the entrance to one of the 240 sma More
Beeldfragment, hoofd, armen en voeten ontbreken Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Kop van een godheid. Public domain photograph of Asian sculpture, Buddhist art, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Nandishvara is one of the two guards at the entrance to temples of the Hindu god Shiva. He has the appearance of an elegant young man and stands on Shiva’s right side. In one hand he holds a circle of prayer be More
Hoekfragment van één der bijtempeltjes van Candi Sewu. Twee koppen in haut-reliëf voorzien van rijke hoofdtooi.
The Hindu deity Brahma is easy to recognize by his four faces, each directed toward one of the four cardinal directions. He is revered as the creator of the universe and is often part of the group of supreme de More
The second guard at a Shiva temple is Mahakala, who stands on Shiva’s left side. His demonic characteristics – wild hair, bulging eyes and open mouth, a fat body and curled-up toes – make him the opposite of th More
This figure comes from one of the shrines at Candi Loro Jonggrang, the largest Hindu temple complex in Central Java. The three most important temples in the complex are dedicated to the gods Shiva, Vishnu and B More
Boeddha gezeten op lotuskussen in wajrasana, uitgevoerd in zwart-grijze kalksteen. Op sokkel.
Makara afkomstig van de linker ingang van Candi Bubrah, een tempel ten zuiden van het Candi Sewu-complex op Midden-Java. De bovenkaak eindigt in een gehoornd monster met opengesperde muil waaruit een menselijk More
The aureole of flames around the body and head of the Buddha ends in a point. This is typical of Kashmiri sculpture from this period. His right hand makes the gesture of reassurance (abhaya mudra). In his left More
Vrouwenkop (fragment van een reliëf). Public domain photograph of figure, small sculpture, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
A guru or religious teacher serves a god by spreading his doctrine among the people. This particular guru is a servant of Shiva, as is clear from the trident (Shiva’s weapon). He is carrying a string of prayer More
Stenen kopje van man met baard en snor (a) in een kastje (b). Het kopje zelf is verguld en in een met een glazen plaat afgedekt kastje gelegd. De bodem van het kastje is met een laag watten bedekt.
Manjushri was venerated in China as one of the first advocates of Buddhism. On Java, he was represented as a young man with bejewelled straps across his chest. This figure’s missing hands may once have made the More
Onderdeel van een architectonische versiering; Hindoeïstische voorstelling van een vorstelijk paar en een godin in een tempel.
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is a person who can reach the state of enlightenment, but chooses to stay on earth to help others in their pursuit of this spiritual knowledge. The crown of the bodhisattva from China More
The Hindu deity Shiva holds a jar of sacred water in his lower left hand and prayer beads in his upper right hand. We know from the smaller silver statuette nearby that in his two other hands he probably held a More
Shiva was the most important Hindu deity of ancient Java. Great temples were dedicated to him and images of him were made in stone, bronze, and precious metal. This pair of silver statuettes shows him together More
This head of a monster once adorned the top of a niche in the wall of a small shrine at Candi Loro Jonggrang, a large Hindu temple complex in Central Java. The term candi is used in Indonesia to denote both Hin More
Guanyin stands on a lotus base, his left hand raised in the gesture of reassurance, and holds a vase in his right hand. He is here depicted as a male divinity. After the Tang dynasty (618-907) artists began por More
A stupa is a hemispherical Buddhist structure built to commemorate the Buddha. Miniature stupas were commissioned by Buddhist pilgrims and offered to monasteries. Human ashes and bones have been found in some o More
Beeld van Visnu; sculptuur in zwarte steen op de achtergrond en aan de zijkanten beschadigd. Op sokkel.
Fragment van een Boeddha-beeld. Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Shiva en Parvati met achter hen hemelingen in relief; een gedeelte van de benen, de lotus- troon en de rijdieren ontbreken. Op sokkel.
Zijfiguur van een dienaar met een vliegenwaaier en een bloem in de handen. De figuur staat met een elegante knik in het lichaam terzijde van een verlorengegane hoofdgodheid. Op sokkel.
This female figure has raised her flywhisk to brush away the little monkey tugging at her clinging lower garment. The imprints of fingernails on her cheek and shoulder betray the fact that she has just been wit More
Spuier in de vorm van een makara met een voorstelling van een treurende zittende vrouw in zijn muil en een aapje tussen de rotsen.
Wit marmeren groep van twee beelden, zonder hoofden. Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
This horn once hung with a similar one (now lost) in the middle of the Mariakerk, Utrecht. Both were given to the Bishop of Utrecht in 1095 but came from the abbey of Saint Hubert (patron saint of hunters) in t More
All the gods in the Hindu pantheon have animal mounts that share character traits with their riders. Shiva’s mount is a bull, the symbol of power and virility. This bull is richly decked out as befits an animal More
Reliëf van een man met in de rechter hand een duif en en de linker hand een pauw. Rond het hoofd een stralenkrans. Het relief is met lijm op een handgeschreven document bevestigd.
Linkerhand die op de knop van een staf rust; fragment van een Visnu-figuur. In houten steun.
Stenen kop van een godheid in de Baphuonstijl. Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Kop van een krijgsman (?). Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Stenen reliëf met een voorstelling van Shiva en Parvati. Op sokkel.
The fight between the Hindu goddess Durga and the demon is described in various Sanskrit texts, which are well known to Hindus. The demon could change shape. He first appeared as a buffalo and was beheaded by D More
This figure is made in the Baphuon style, recognizable by the draped lower garment worn around the hips and fastened high at the back. The style is named after the Baphuon Temple, part of the complex at Angkor. More
Beeld van de vogel Garuda, het rijdier van Vishnu. De vogel is weergegeven in menselijke gestalte, maar met een vogelsneb. Zijn haar is met een slang samengebonden. Met zijn rechterhand maakt hij het gebaar van More
A carved ivory column with a floral motif, Europe, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
This bodhisattva sits in the so-called Maharajajila posture of royal ease, one arm resting on a raised knee. This pose also suggests that this figure is a so-called Water-Moon Guanyin, in which form the divinit More
This head originally formed part of a complete figure of Vishnu. The Hindu god would have been represented reclining on his side, resting his head on his hand. The damage behind his right ear marks the place wh More
Kop van een Bodhisattva; hoog opgemaakte haartooi; een kuiltje op de plaats van de urna.
Kop van een hemelse nimf (asparas), ernstig verweerd. Op sokkel. Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The body of this heavenly beauty (apsara) is laden with jewellery, which has been meticulously carved. This is characteristic of the period in which the sculpture was made, during the reign of the Hoysala dynas More
In the Middle Ages in northwest Europe, an ornamental style featuring complex spirals, plants and animals was very common. The decoration on this portable reliquary matches the carved patterns found in the Roma More
This head was found near the western gate of the walled city of Angkor Thom. In the late 12th century the bodhisattva Lokeshvara was particularly revered there. The head’s distinctive expression, with closed ey More
This figure was found at Chau Say Tevoda, one of the smaller sanctuaries at Angkor. The draped lower garment worn around the hips shows that it is made in the Bayon style. The simple floral pattern, decorated d More
This head, which once had four faces, comes from the large Buddhist temple of Ta Prohm at Angkor. It perhaps represents Prajnaparamita, the Buddhist goddess of wisdom, rather than a male deity or bodhisattva. T More
Kop van Boeddha of godheid in de Bayonstijl. Op sokkel. Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Kop van een godheid met diadeem; hoofdtooi (mukuta) ontbreekt, evenals de oren; achterzijde afgeplat.
This relief is one of the oldest ivories in the Rijksmuseum’s collection. It was once part of a large, gilded reliquary in the shape of a cruciform temple with cupolas. Ivory reliefs such as this one were mount More
Buddhism took hold in Japan in the middle of the 6th century. Around 600, the statesman Shotoku Taishi was a major advocate of the new religion. He would later be revered as a deity himself. Here Shotoku Taishi More
Staande Jizo waarvan handen en voeten ontbreken. Jizo bosatsu. Public domain photograph of sculpture object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Zij staat met de handen voor de borst gevouwen, het hoofd naar rechts gewend.
In Buddhism a bodhisattva is an enlightened being. The buddha figure in the crown makes it clear that we are dealing with Avalokiteshvara. The figure exhibits the influence of Nepal and India, visible in the so More
Jizo is a saviour of souls. He is a bodhisattva, an enlightened being who delays his own redemption to help mankind. The gentle face is stylized, but the posture of the body displays a certain realism, with som More
Het corpus vertoont even naar links doorgezakte knieën, de voeten staan naast elkaar, de armen zijn vrijwel horizontaal. Van het iets naar links voorover gebogen hoofd met gescheiden haar vallen tressen voor de More
The Virgin is seated with the Christ Child on her lap. Here she is more than merely the mother of Jesus, she is the symbolic throne on which the Child sits, the incarnation of divine wisdom: the sedes sapientia More
The Virgin sits with the Christ Child on her lap. Not only is she the mother of Jesus, here she is also the sedes sapientiae (seat of wisdom) – thus the throne on which is seated Christ, who represents divine w More
Votieftablet met een brede basis en naar boven smal toelopend; afbeelding van Boeddha in een omlijsting onder de Bodhi-boom.