Artist: unknown
Title: The Great Stupa/Mount Meru at Borobudur, first gallery, detail
from the scene of the "Great Departure" from the lives of Shakyamuni
Buddha.
Material: volcanic rock
Site: Borobudur, Central Java, Indonesia
Current Location: in situ
Period/Date: ca. end of the 8th - beginning of the 9th century,
under the Shailendra dynasty
Iconography/Iconology:
Stylistic Comments: The crowed composition is characteristic of all
panels at Borobudur. The figures appear to float against a background, yet
are place so close to each other giving the impression of being "crushed"
together. The figures are palced in two horizontal bands, one floating above
the other. More importantly, the vast majority of these subsidiary figures
do not find a mention in any literary narrative of the corresponding event.
