A PAINTED WOOD GUANYINChina, Qing dynasty96 cm high Provenance: Vittorio Bellini (1936-2009) collection.The bodhisattva Guanyin (sanskrit Avalokitesvara) is one of the most beloved deities of the entire and very rich Buddhist pantheon, especially in China and Japan. The faithful turn to him in particular for the mercy of this divinity, especially women who intend to have children or mothers.This statue - originally covered with a rich polychromy - takes up 'classic' sculptural canons in vogue since the Song dynasty, elaborating them in traditional ways recurring even in the Qing era.