Miracle of the Dragon
1604
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Miracle of the Dragon is a 1604 unspecified by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a long scroll with a dragon rising from water while people watch. Some look shocked; others barely react. At the top, a man sits so still that birds are building a nest on his head. The painting shows how different people respond to something amazing. The calmest figure is the Buddha—he’s so deep in meditation that nature forgets he’s there. The artist used thin, flowing lines to make the dragon feel alive. If you like this, look up more works about china, ming dynasty (1368–1644).
Buddhist disciples are grouped around a dragon in the lower right part of the scroll. The figures' varying levels of composure at the miraculous appearance of the dragon indicates how far removed each figure is from worldly affairs. The lay people's body language expresses their surprise. In contrast, the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, in the upper right has been seated in meditation for such a long time that birds have begun assembling twigs for a nest atop his head. His eyes remain closed, and his body still, unmoved by either the sudden materialization of the dragon or the proximity of the…
The generous application of brilliant mineral pigments is still evident throughout this painting.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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