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Guardian Kings: Dhrtarastra and Virupaksa

Unknown

1304

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Byzantine icon painting Medieval Religious

Dominant colour

Guardian Kings: Dhrtarastra and Virupaksa is a 1304 unspecified by Unknown, a Byzantine icon painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1304 · Byzantine icon painting
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows two fierce-looking figures tangled in swirling clouds. One has a snake coiled around his arm, the other holds a club. Their faces are sharp, almost angry, with big eyes and wild hair. The background is dark and busy, like stormy smoke. The figures look like protectors—maybe guardians—based on their fierce poses. They’re painted in earthy browns and blacks, with some red and white for contrast. Look up *sino-tibet* next to see how these kinds of figures appear in other art.