Page 150 - Bonhams Cornette Saint Cyr, Property from the estate of Jean-Pierre Rousset (1936-2021)

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TORSE D'UNE DIVINITÉ MASCULINE EN GRÈS This rare and very important sculpture represents the transition in
Cambodge, style de Khleang, fin du Xe/début du XIe siècle aesthetic tastes under Sûryavarman I (1002-1010) that defined the
Khleang style. It is most likely that the figure portrays Avalokiteshvara
A SANDSTONE TORSO OF A MALE DEITY due to the presence of four arms and the ruler's favour of Buddhism.
Cambodia, Khleang style, late 10th/early 11th century The shoulders are quite straight and do not yet have the roundness
The elegant torso with subtle, yet powerful representation of his of the style of the Baphuon and the adaptation of the sampot closer
pectoral muscles and broad shoulders. The superb sampot is rendered to the style of Banteay Srei. As with an example in the Norton Simon
in narrow vertical pleats and spreads across the left thigh in broader Museum of Art (P.Pal, Asian Art from the Norton Simon Museum of
fan-like manner. The fabric is drawn between the thighs and arranged Art, Volume 3, p.184, no.145) the sampot has become shorter and
on the verso in a double hook that rises from beneath the belt. The has an oblique edge stopping at mid-thighs. The rendering of a finely
observation of the garment by the artist is remarkable in the manner in pleated fabric replaces the broad vertical panels favoured in the 10th
which it is secured with a delicately depicted overlapping sash on the century reflecting the residual hieratic power of Pre Rup (see Jessup
left side and is pulled under the right side with a fold protruding artfully and Zéphir, Sculpture of Angkor and Ancient Cambodia, Millennium
from the top and the end draped in a scabbard-like fold. of Glory, 1997, p.218, no.46), and predicts the following celebrated
70cm (27 9/16in) high. Baphuon style (see lot 66). Here the sampot circles the waist in a flatter
line as opposed to riding high on the hips as seen in Baphuon but is
€100,000-150,000 carved with the same delicacy and lightness (see Brand and Phoeurn,
The Age of Angkor: Treasures from the National Museum of Cambodia,
Provenance: Australia, 1992, p.74).
Robert Rousset, Paris (1901-1981), acquired from Peng Seng,
Bangkok, 26 January 1971
Jean-Pierre Rousset, Paris (1936-2021)

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