Page 66 - Yamanaka co Auction catalog

IOO-FuCHIEN FIGURE GROUP (Ming)
Kuan-yin and infant Buddha on a lion. The lion is repre-
sented walking, on a scroll, with head turned more than a
quarter toward the observer. He is a beast of noble pro-
portions and ominous aspect, with jaws apart and rolling
tongue protruding, nostrils flaring, and has some sort of a
crumpled horn. The goddess's position on his back is a
compromise between the side seat and riding astride, and
she turns slightly toward the spectator, her right arm en-
circling the infant. She is in flowing robes, with bared
breast. Her expression is benign, that of the infant ex-
uberant. The modeling of the whole group is little less
than wonderful, in the serene dignity of the goddes 's