Purchased by Mr. James A. Alsdorf, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. The exact date that Mr. Alsdorf purchased this object is unknown; however, Mr. Aldorf acquired the object before his death in April 1990. Attempts to determine from whom Mr. Aldorf acquired the object were unsuccessful. Mrs. Marilynn Alsdorf publicly promised the object to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1997, signed a promised gift agreement for the object in 2002, and gave the object to the Art Institute of Chicago in 2019.

"A Collection Odyssey: Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art from the James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection"–The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (August 2–October 26, 1997); "In The Footsteps of Buddha. An Iconic Journey from India to China"–University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, Honk Kong, China (September 25–December 15, 1998). The object was on display at the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, in the Alsdorf Galleries of Indian, Southeast Asian, Himalayan and Islamic Art from November 25, 2008–June 13, 2017.

Pratapaditya Pal with contributions by Stephen Little, A Collecting Odyssey: Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art from the James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection (The Art Institute of Chicago in association with Thames and Hudson, New York, New York, 1997), p. 295, cat. 105 and plate p. 90. Rajeshwari Ghose, In the Footsteps of the Buddha: An Iconic Journey from India to China (University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 1998), p. 146, cat. 4. T.W. Rhys Davids, 1000 Buddhas of Genius (New York: Parkstone International, 2009), p. 122, no. 146.

Cumulative facts and figures

This acquisition falls within two exceptions: cumulative facts and circumstances as well as gift or bequest expected or on loan prior to 2008. First, the cumulative facts and circumstances known to the Art Institute of Chicago at the time of the acquisition allowed it to make an informed judgment to acquire the object. The exact date that Mr. Alsdorf purchased this object is unknown; however, Mr. Alsdorf acquired the object before his death in 1990. Attempts to determine from whom Mr. Alsdorf acquired the object were unsuccessful. The object was included in exhibitions in Chicago (1997) and Hong Kong (1998) and has been publicly displayed from 2008 to 2017 at the Art Institute of Chicago. The object has been published in three books on South Asian Art: A Collecting Odyssey: Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art from the James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection (1997); In the Footsteps of the Buddha (1998); and in 1000 Buddhas of Genius (2009). In addition, the acquisition furthers the representation of the artistic achievements of all civilizations in art museums because it represents a relatively early depiction of the Buddha from the Andhra region of South India of which there are few examples in public collections in the United States. Second, the acquisition of the object was by gift and the object was promised to the Art Institute prior to 2008. Mrs. Alsdorf publicly promised the object to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1997, and thereafter signed a promised agreement for the object in 2002.