Head of the Buddha Maitreya

This large head once belonged to the principal figure, the Maitreya, in the main cave of the Leigutai complex at Longmen. It is a remarkable example of Buddhist sculpture produced with the support of the Tang court. Despite its large scale, the head was sensitively rendered and finely finished, with great care given to details such as the hair, the eyes, and the fullness of the cheeks. The Buddhist caves at Longmen were particularly favored by Empress Wu Zetian, because she often stayed in nearby Luoyang, the dynasty’s eastern capital.