Buddha Triumphing over Mara

This gold Buddha from 18th-century Thailand shows the moment of enlightenment: Siddhartha Gautama touching the earth to witness his triumph over Mara, the demon of illusion. This gesture (bhumisparsha mudra) is the most commonly depicted moment in Buddhist art. As Siddhartha meditated under the Bodhi tree, Mara appeared with an army of demons to claim the throne of enlightenment. Siddhartha simply touched the ground, calling the earth as his witness, and Mara was defeated.

The piece comes from either the Rattanakosin period (post-1782, Bangkok) or late Ayutthaya period (1350-1767). Gold was reserved for the most important Buddha images, reflecting both the sacred nature of the subject and the devotion of the patron who commissioned it. Thai Buddhist sculpture from this era features refined gilding techniques and elegant proportions. It's at the Art Institute of Chicago.