Conservation of Guanyin, Bodhisattva of Compassion and Attendant Figures

Guanyin, Bodhisattva of Compassion is a masterpiece of Song Dynasty sculpture and a centerpiece of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection of Asian art. Learn about the complex restoration history of Guanyin and the collaborative technical study that confirmed its relationship to a pair of smaller attendant figures. By looking at the sculptures’ fabrication, wood construction, and the many decorative patterns of paint and gilding, we explore the transformations that have occurred since this sculptural grouping was created in 11^th or 12^th century Shaanxi, and how decisions made throughout the 20^th century impact their current presentation.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum’s rich collection of non-Western art includes a similar figure of Guanyin that is the subject of an upcoming collaborative technical study between Gardner and MFA conservators and scientists.

Lecturer

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