Standing Buddha Cambodia, Angkor Wat, 12th century.

Standing Buddha Cambodia, Angkor Wat, 12th century.
In patinated bronze.
It shows wear typical of age.
Measurements: 24,3 cm. height; 6,5 x 10,3 x 10 cm. pedestal.

Standing Buddha, being represented wrapped in a mantle with samppot and an ornamented sash. His harmonious features are enhanced by the large earrings and the high knobbed crown. He shows both palms of his hands, in a gesture that alludes to the mudra vitarka and abhaya.

Angkor Wat, located in Cambodia, is the largest preserved religious monument (or monumental complex) in the world, covering just over 162 hectares. It was originally built as a Hindu temple to the god Vishnu by the Khmer Empire, becoming an important center of Buddhism towards the end of the twelfth century (which continues today), without ever being completely abandoned although it did go through periods of decadence (mainly after the sixteenth century). Leaving aside the typology of constructions (mainly two, the "mountain-temple" and the later temple of galleries; thought to represent Mount Meru, home of the "devas" of Hindu mythology) is decorated with a large number of friezes of bas-reliefs in stone with various themes (Ramayana and Mahabharata on the inner walls of the outer gallery; in other areas the Battle of Lanka, the Battle of Kurukshetra, a procession of King Suryavarman II, the 32 hells and the 37 paradises or heavens of Hinduism, the Samudramanthan, Vishnu defeating "asuras" -added in the 16th century, apparently-, scenes from the life of Krishna, apsaras, devata, etc.).

The Khmer or Khmer is one of the most important cultures developed in Indochina. At the beginning of the 7th century, the first inscriptions in their language appear in the Indian kingdom of Tshenla, located in the middle course of the Mekong River. The Khmer reorganized politically, and in the 9th century achieved the unity of present-day Cambodia under the reign of Jayavarman II (802-850), founder of the kingdom of Angkor. This monarch had spent his youth in the refined court of the sailendra of Java, so he brought to his country an important influence of the Javanese culture, as well as the courtly protocol of that dynasty. Khmer art reached its moment of splendor during the period of Angkor, developed between the IX and XIII centuries, and reached very different fields, such as textiles, lacquer, ceramics, goldsmithery, etc. As for Khmer sculpture, from the 7th century it began to separate from the Indian influence and, after a long process of stylistic evolution, it developed its own original language, consolidated in the 10th century. It will be mainly carved in stone and with religious themes, although on numerous occasions the sacred theme becomes a mere excuse to represent courtly scenes, even if they feature gods. Hence the greater degree of realism with respect to Indian art, since the artists took royal courtiers as models. The result is admirable images of gods of imposing presence, endowed with a certain feminine sensuality and sophisticated beauty.