166 - Luohan; China, Qing dynasty, 19th century.

Luohan; China, Qing dynasty, 19th century. Hand-painted stoneware. It presents firing cracks. Measurements: 26 x 19 x 18 cm. Sculpture representing a Luohan (Arhat), a figure revered in Buddhism as an enlightened disciple of the Buddha. The piece, from China during the Qing dynasty (19th century), is made of hand-painted stoneware, a technique that allows great expressiveness and chromatic detail. The Luohan is shown with an energetic and severe countenance, symbol of his spiritual power and inner dominion, while he sits among rock formations that allude to the mountainous landscapes where these sages usually meditate. The folds of his garments, decorated with vivid blue, green and red enamels, are evidence of the technical mastery of Qing artisans and the symbolic richness of Chinese Buddhist iconography.