Buddha Seated under the Naga

The name Lopburi has generally been used to designate the Khmer-inspired art of Thailand. The Lopburi region in the northeastern part of Thailand bordering Cambodia came under Khmer domination from the eleventh to thirteenth centuries, but sculptural styles inspired by Khmer models continued there well into the fifteenth century. Sculpture from Lopburi, 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 from Cambodia, both in time and space.This sculpture is an example of the late style of Lopburi art. This period 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. A major characteristic of the Lopburi style is the elimination of all adornment. The Buddha’s robe is represented only by a faint line across his chest and a thin strip of cloth over one shoulder. Unlike the Buddha images found at such places as Sukhothai, the Buddha here does not display a flaming finial above the head, nor are his curls elaborately carved. He remains sober in his outlook, quite reminiscent of the Buddhas of the Bayon in Cambodia.