Throughout the history of art, religious objects usually have great significance, because they reflect certain cultural and religious background through their visual effects and functions. In this paper, I will compare and contrast two stunning religious art pieces in the round. The first is The Annunciation, a painting made by an unknown artist in the Netherlands, or possibly France, in the 1380s. The second is Stele with Maitreya and Attendants, a relief sculpture made by an unknown sculptor in China during the Northern Wei dynasty. The two artworks are different in their ways showing the major figures, and the main figures play different roles in each piece, because of their religious difference. Nevertheless, there are similarities between
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In The Annunciation, Mary’s hands are raised, and her right palm faces outwards at chest level, showing her acceptance of Gabriel’s message. Her gesture expresses her willing cooperation with God’s plan of salvation. Also, in the background, a baby flies towards Mary, foreshadowing Christ’s birth in the future, which brings hope to the earth and save people.
In Stele with Maitreya and Attendants, Maitreya’s right hand is raised to breast height, arm bent and palm facing outward. He makes the Abhaya Mudra, a hand gesture symbolizing protection, salvation and dispelling of fear. Additionally, in Buddhism, Maitreya achieves complete enlightenment and will appear on earth as a future Buddha.11 Therefore, the two works of art both indicate bringing hope and salvation to the world in the future in different religious context.
Generally speaking, in The Annunciation, a narrative painting, Mary’s importance is shown through the comparison between her sitting pose and Gabriel’s kneeling pose, which is ultimately designed to depict the biblical scene. In contrast, in Stele with Maitreya and Attendants, Maitreya’s importance is shown visually through the composition of the work and the use of hieratic scale. Also, Mary is displayed as a goddess, whereas Maitreya is exhibited as an accessible human being. Despite the differences, both of the art pieces are made for personal devotion, and they suggest the meaning of salvation and hope for the
In The Annunciation, Mary’s hands are raised, and her right palm faces outwards at chest level, showing her acceptance of Gabriel’s message. Her gesture expresses her willing cooperation with God’s plan of salvation. Also, in the background, a baby flies towards Mary, foreshadowing Christ’s birth in the future, which brings hope to the earth and save people.
In Stele with Maitreya and Attendants, Maitreya’s right hand is raised to breast height, arm bent and palm facing outward. He makes the Abhaya Mudra, a hand gesture symbolizing protection, salvation and dispelling of fear. Additionally, in Buddhism, Maitreya achieves complete enlightenment and will appear on earth as a future Buddha.11 Therefore, the two works of art both indicate bringing hope and salvation to the world in the future in different religious context.
Generally speaking, in The Annunciation, a narrative painting, Mary’s importance is shown through the comparison between her sitting pose and Gabriel’s kneeling pose, which is ultimately designed to depict the biblical scene. In contrast, in Stele with Maitreya and Attendants, Maitreya’s importance is shown visually through the composition of the work and the use of hieratic scale. Also, Mary is displayed as a goddess, whereas Maitreya is exhibited as an accessible human being. Despite the differences, both of the art pieces are made for personal devotion, and they suggest the meaning of salvation and hope for the