The name Lopburi has generally been used to designate the Khmer-inspired art of Thailand. The region of Lopburi, in northeastern Thailand bordering on Cambodia, came under Khmer domination from the eleventh to thirteenth centuries, but sculptural styles inspired by Khmer models continued well into the fifteenth century in the region. Sculpture from lpburi, especially from the later part of the period, has often been considered to be of lesser quality than its Khmer counterpart, perhaps due to its remoteness in time and space from Cambodia.

The late style of Lopburi art was characterized by its use of sandstone and featured both Hindu and Buddhist iconography, which accounts for the representation of the Naga, a multiheaded water snake associated with Hinduism. The image of the Buddha under the protective hood of the Naga is a common motif in Lopburi art, and depicts the Buddha meditating during the sixth week after achieving enlightenment, when a fierce storm brewed up. The Naga king, Mucilinda, emerged, raised the Buddha up on his coils and opened his hood to shelter Buddha from the torrential rains. For seven days, the storm raged, but Buddha continued his meditation undisturbed under the Naga’s protection.