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Painting and drawings

Unknown

1250

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Medieval Religious

Dominant colour

Painting and drawings is a 1250 by Unknown, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1250
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This drawing shows a fierce, many-armed figure with a red face and wild hair. It’s standing on a base with swirls, holding a bow and a flower-like object. The figure wears a belt with hanging decorations and has three eyes, sharp teeth, and a fierce grin. The small size and bold lines suggest it might be part of a larger set of religious images. The figure’s many arms and intense expression fit the style of certain traditional religious art. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.

The story of this work

Overview

The artwork consists of drawings and paintings attributed to an unknown creator from around 1250, exhibiting stylistic traits common in Nepalese art of the period. Its asymmetrical decorative elements closely resemble those found in 15th-century wall paintings at Alchi Monastery in Ladakh. The piece is part of a collection of Tibetan and Nepalese-Lamaist objects acquired in 1910 from Messrs Baillie and Gardner in London. The acquisition records indicate the purchase was made for £445.11.6.

Read the full account in the museum source.