Amitayus Buddha. Tibet, 17th-18th century.Mercury gilt bronze, with semi-precious stones.Measurements: 38 x 25 x 17 cm.Amitayus is the Buddha of Infinite Life. It is the long life aspect of the Buddha Amitabha. Amitayus has been represented with singular refinement in this sculpture in mercury-gilded bronze, covered with semiprecious stones. Seated in the lotus position, with his hands doing a mudra, he stands on a pedestal in the shape of a lotus flower, symbol of purity. The eyelids slightly bent are a symbol of spiritual concentration and purity because of their similarity to the petals of the lotus. The serene face is illuminated with a barely hinted smile. A sinuous line follows the lip profile, marking with similar delicacy the perfect arch of the eyebrows, the almond-shaped eye sockets and the bridge of the nose. Each curve has been meditated and balanced to communicate the serenity characteristic of a perfect being. The elongated earlobes allude to the large earrings worn by members of the noble classes and represent the concepts of greatness, nobility and wisdom. The figure wears, in this case, sumptuous earrings and the care in the ornamentation continues in the strings of jewels of the necklaces. The headdress ends with a bun in the shape of a pagoda, being this assimilation of the hairstyle to the Buddhist temple typical of Buddhist art.