Provenance:
Jean-Claude Moreau-Gobard, Paris
European Private Collection, acquired in 1987
Bonhams, Hong Kong, March 29, 2018, no. 18
Swiss Private Collection
Kneeling with their hands joined in anjali mudra, the two monks are shown in an attitude of prayer. Their robes fall over the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder bare, while their elongated, unadorned earlobes are traditional signs of Buddhist monastic renunciation. Composed expressions and downcast eyes reinforce the devotional character of the pair. Their matching poses and slight inward turn bring the two together, giving the impression of a shared act of worship.
The presence of kneeling worshippers is closely connected with the religious culture of Buddhist Ayutthaya. Such images could represent monks or lay devotees engaged in acts of reverence before the Buddha. Here, the emphasis falls on the gesture itself: hands joined in prayer, heads slightly lowered, and bodies brought close to the ground in an expression of humility.
The pair displays characteristics associated with bronze sculpture of the Ayutthaya period, including gently-modeled faces beneath arched brows and closely-cropped hair arranged in rows of curls. Smooth, rounded contours define the shoulders, arms, and folded legs, while traces of lacquer and gilding remain on the surface. Together, the two monks preserve a quiet but very direct image of Buddhist devotion.