Artwork
Statuette of a Buddha
Statuette of a Buddha is a watercolor drawing by the Impressionist artist Emily Sargent. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Emily Sargent’s 1885 watercolor, titled Statuette of a Buddha, depicts a diminutive golden figure of the Buddha seated cross‑legged upon a low pedestal. The composition is rendered in a restrained palette, with the statue’s warm tones set against a muted, softly blended background that conveys a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work centers on a solitary Buddhist icon, its serene expression and upright posture suggesting inner peace and meditation. By isolating the figure from any narrative context, Sargent emphasizes the universal qualities of calm and spiritual stillness associated with the Buddha’s teachings.
Technique & Style
Sargent employs loose, fluid brushwork characteristic of late‑nineteenth‑century watercolor practice, allowing color gradations to suggest volume and surface texture. Subtle shifts in hue create a sense of depth, while the delicate handling of light imparts a gentle luminosity to the golden statue.
History & Provenance
Created in 1885, the watercolor entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader interest in American women artists of the period and in works that explore cross‑cultural subjects.
Artist & collection
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STUDIU DE NUD – TORS
Worship of Stone Image of Shiva and Parvati within a Shrine
The Great Statue of Amida Buddha at Kamakura, Known as the Daibutsu, from the Priest's Garden
Cambodian bronze sculpture of Buddha head, ca. 13th century A.D., V&A Museum
Untitled
A Spanish Madonna
Danseuse Cobodgienne (Cambodian Dancer)