Kneeling Monk

This 19th-century gilt bronze from Myanmar shows a Buddhist monk kneeling in devotion. At about 30 inches tall, it's a substantial piece of Southeast Asian Buddhist art. The kneeling pose represents reverence and humility, core values in Buddhist monastic practice. Myanmar (Burma) has one of the longest unbroken traditions of Theravada Buddhism, and temples commissioned gilt bronze sculptures for devotional display.

The gilding (gold over bronze) reflects the importance of the commission. In Southeast Asian Buddhism, monks occupy the highest social position as bearers of the dharma, and images of monks in prayer served as reminders of the monastic ideal. Myanmar's Buddhist artistic traditions remained active through the 19th century, producing work that maintained classical forms while reflecting local artistic sensibilities. It's at the Art Institute of Chicago.