Mongolia, Zanabazar School, 18th century

Tulku Zanabazar (c. 1635-1723) was a direct descendent of Genghis Khan and the religious leader and master artist of Mongolia. From 1649 to 1651 he traveled extensively through Tibet, collecting examples of metalwork. Upon his return to Mongolia, the Dalai Lama ordered a group of monks and artists to return with him and teach the local Mongolian artists their crafts of metalcasting, architecture and iconography. The imperial art school founded by Zanabazar produced some of the finest bronzes in the history of Mongolian art. Characterized by richly gilt surfaces overall, finely modeled and smoothly sloping contours with embellishments limited to borders, full figures standing or seated on an elevated double-lotus base, and a minimalist aesthetic that endows the figures with a sense of stability, Zanabazar bronze sculptures exhibit a cohesive style testament to the vision of the great leader.