The Art Institute of Chicago has announced that it is returning a 12th-century sculpture of the Buddha to Nepal after learning that it was stolen.

In a statement dated 3 March, the museum said that it was working in cooperation with Nepal’s government on the “return of a significant sculpture—Buddha Sheltered by the Serpent King Muchalinda—to its place of origin.” (Art Institute of Chicago)

The Art Institute said the 900-year-old artifact depicted “a powerful story of divine intervention and protection” when the serpent king Mucilinda rose to shelter Shakyamuni Buddha as he sat for seven days in deep meditation during an intense thunderstorm. 

“This sacred sculpture is a carrier of stories, traditions, and values that have shaped Nepal’s religious, spiritual, and cultural identity for centuries. Its return strengthens the bond between heritage and community, ensuring future generations can connect with their history,” said the Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, DC, Sharad Raj Aran. “We deeply appreciate the collaboration with the Art Institute of Chicago in making this repatriation possible, and we look forward to building on this partnership through continued dialogue and future collaboration in the areas of cultural preservation, research, and exchange.” (Art Institute of Chicago)

The sculpture has been on regular view in museum galleries since 1997, featuring in landmark exhibitions. The museum noted that it had learned that the sculpture was stolen from Nepal during ongoing research to assess the provenance of artifacts in its collections.

After uncovering new details about the statue’s history, the Art Institute collaborated with the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, DC, and the government of Nepal, determining that the statue had been stolen from Guita Bahi in the Kathmandu Valley.

“This return reflects the importance of provenance research, as well as the Art Institute’s proactive outreach and collaboration with countries and communities,” said Executive Director, Provenance Research, Jacques Schuhmacher of the Art Institute of Chicago. “We are grateful to work in partnership with our colleagues from Nepal to return this object to its place of origin and to collaborate and learn from each other into the future.” (Art Institute of Chicago)

Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States, with an expansive collection significants artifacts—centered on a permanent collection of nearly 300,000 works of art—stewarded by 11 curatorial departments. The museum is affiliated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and is notable as one of only a few unified arts institutions remaining in the US.

“Provenance research remains an institutional priority for the Art Institute,” the museum remarked. “The provenance research team is one of the largest of its kind in the country and works diligently with curators, researchers, and museum leaders to conduct strategic and rigorous research across the entire collection and to inform decision making on these important topics.”

In 2024, the Art Institute repatriated to Thailand a fragment of a 12th-century pilaster—a rectangular architectural column in the side of a doorframe—depicting in bas-relief Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana. Research indicated that the fragment had originated at Wat Phanom Rung, a Buddhist temple in northeast Thailand.

In recent article, the online arts magazine Hyperallergic asserted that the museum needed to do more in verifying the provenance of pieces that it holds. The magazine pointed to a number of artifacts of Nepali origin that remain in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection, among them an inscribed gilt-copper necklace from Kathmandu’s Taleju Temple. 

“The Taleju necklace, a gift from the Alsdorf Foundation, was first identified as having been looted from Kathmandu in 2021,” the magazine reported. “Since then, activists have raised significant public awareness and support for its repatriation.” (Hyperallergic)

In response to enquiries by Hyperallergic, an Art Institute of Chicago spokesperson affirmed that the museum was committed to prioritizing provenance research across departments and was dedicated to researching each object in its collection.

“This work is complex and can take significant time, but this latest return is a demonstration of our commitment to take action when we learn new information,” the spokesperson added. (Hyperallergic)

See more

Art Institute of Chicago Returns 12th-century Buddha Sculpture to Nepal (Art Institute of Chicago)
Art Institute of Chicago Returns Pilaster to Phanom Rung Temple in Thailand (Art Institute of Chicago)
Art Institute of Chicago Returns Sacred Buddha Statue to Nepal (Hyperallergic)

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