Buddha: China, Qing dynasty, 19th century.

Buddha: China, Qing dynasty, 19th century.
Lacquered and partially gilded wood.
It presents some fracture and breakage in the lower right area of the base.
Measurements: 100 x 980 x 60 cm.
Buddha statue made of carved, lacquered and gilded wood. It is probably the representation of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. The hands are in the lap with the palms upwards, which represents the mudra of meditation, symbolizing the inner focus, the calm and the connection with oneself.
Under the Qing, inherited art forms flourished and innovations occurred on many levels and in many types. High levels of literacy, a successful publishing industry, thriving cities, and Confucian emphasis on cultivation nurtured a lively and creative set of cultural fields. By the late 19th century, the national artistic and cultural worlds had begun to reconcile with the cosmopolitan culture of the West and Japan. The decision to remain within the old forms or to welcome Western models was now a conscious choice rather than an unquestioning acceptance of tradition. Classically trained Confucian scholars. The Qing emperors were generally skilled in poetry and often skilled in painting, and they offered their patronage to Confucian culture.