A Technical Study of Chinese Buddhist Sculptures: First Insights into a Complex History of Transformation through Analysis of the Polychrome Decoration

Artifacts pertaining to Buddhist culture are often studied in relation to their circulation from India throughout the rest of Asia; however, many traveled to Europe during the last few centuries as trade commodities and pieces for the art market, losing any devotional purpose in favor of a specific...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Coatings (Basel) 2024-03, Vol.14 (3), p.344
Main Authors: Ricci, Chiara, Buscaglia, Paola, Angelici, Debora, Piccirillo, Anna, Matteucci, Enrica, Demonte, Daniele, Tasso, Valentina, Sanna, Noemi, Zenucchini, Francesca, Croci, Sara, Di Iorio, Federico, Vigo, Laura, Quadrio, Davide, Pozzi, Federica
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
16th century
Art galleries & museums
Art works
Buddhism
Cameras
CMOS
Color
Lighting
Microscopy
Photographic industry
Sculpture
Sensors
Spectrum analysis
Statuary
Stratigraphy
The Buddha
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Summary:Artifacts pertaining to Buddhist culture are often studied in relation to their circulation from India throughout the rest of Asia; however, many traveled to Europe during the last few centuries as trade commodities and pieces for the art market, losing any devotional purpose in favor of a specific aesthetic sensitivity that was typically adapted to Western taste to appeal to collectors. This article presents a technical study of seven polychrome wooden sculptures from the Museo d’Arte Orientale (MAO) in Turin, Italy. Originally from China, these objects are generally attributed to the late Ming–early Qing dynasties (16th–18th centuries) based merely on stylistic and iconographic considerations. Scientific analysis sought to expand the available knowledge on their constituting materials and fabrication techniques, to address questions on their authenticity, to assess their state of preservation, and to trace the history of transformations they have undergone while transitioning from devotional objects to private collection and museum artwork. By delving into the sculptures’ intricate paint stratigraphy, the results were also key to guiding treatment choices. The outcomes of this study were featured in the MAO exhibition “Buddha10. A Fragmented Display on Buddhist Visual Evolution” (October 2022–September 2023).
ISSN:2079-6412
2079-6412
DOI:10.3390/coatings14030344