389 - A SEATED SANDSTONE BUDDHA, BAYON PERIOD, CAMBODIA 12TH CENTURY

A SEATED SANDSTONE BUDDHA, BAYON PERIOD, CAMBODIA 12TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 58 cm Wide 45 cm Depth 33 cm without base Weight: 41 Kilograms with base The Buddha is shown seated in dhyānāsana (full meditation posture) upon a simple pedestal, with both hands resting in his lap in dhyānamudrā (gesture of meditation). The broad shoulders, smooth chest, and rounded limbs are modeled with a quiet monumentality, while the face is serene, with downcast eyes beneath arched brows, full lips set in a faint smile, and elongated earlobes. The tightly coiled hair rises into a domed uṣṇīṣa. The surface of the sandstone shows weathering consistent with age, with areas of erosion across the torso and base, imparting a sense of venerable antiquity. This sculpture belongs to the Bayon style of the Khmer Empire (late 12th–early 13th century), associated with the reign of Jayavarman VII. Characterized by a combination of spiritual calm and robust modeling, Bayon-period Buddhas reflect the Mahāyāna orientation of the Khmer court at this time, emphasizing the compassionate and meditative aspects of the Buddha. In comparison with the earlier Angkor Wat style (first half of the 12th century), which favored more linear, slender, and sharply defined forms, Bayon-period Buddhas appear fuller, softer, and more naturalistic. The Angkor Wat style often emphasized strict symmetry and idealized proportions, while the Bayon style reveals a greater concern for human warmth and accessibility, in harmony with Jayavarman VII’s vision of a compassionate Buddhist kingship. The emphasis on serene meditation and compassionate presence in Bayon art reflects Jayavarman VII’s personal devotion to both the historical Buddha and to Lokeśvara (Avalokiteśvara), the bodhisattva of compassion. The king identified himself with the compassionate ideal, presenting his reign as a Buddhist kingship devoted to alleviating the suffering of his people — an ethos embodied in the calm yet powerful presence of sculptures such as this.