Artwork
Pair of book covers with Buddhist deities
Pair of book covers with Buddhist deities is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1092 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work consists of two elongated panels, each set against a vivid red ground.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1083, the piece originates from a cultural context where religious imagery adorned sacred texts, enhancing devotional practice.
The artwork depicts Buddhist deities in a symbolic narrative, reflecting spiritual themes through traditional iconography. The figures represent divine attributes associated with protection and enlightenment, central to Buddhist cosmology. Created in 1083, the piece originates from a cultural context where religious imagery adorned sacred texts, enhancing devotional practice.
Its presence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art underscores its significance as a surviving example of medieval East Asian Buddhist art.
History & Provenance
The Pair of book covers with Buddhist deities is dated to 1083, a date established as the inception of the work. It is classified as a painting attributed to an anonymous painter. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains located.
No further details regarding commission, prior ownership, or chain of custody are documented in the available sources.
The Pair of book covers with Buddhist deities is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was created in 1083 and remains part of their collection. The work has been exhibited in the Met's painting galleries as part of their Asian art presentation.
The painting is cataloged under the accession number 1983.206.1.
The work was featured in the exhibition "Painting and Sculpture: 10th-13th Century" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1983, which highlighted early Buddhist artworks in their collection.
Legacy
The work's enduring influence is reflected in its presence within major institutional collections, notably the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is preserved as a key example of early medieval Buddhist artistic expression. Its legacy contributes to scholarly understanding of 11th-century Tibetan painting traditions, though specific later works directly inspired by it are not documented in the sources. The painting's attribution to an anonymous creator underscores the devotional rather than individualistic nature of its production during this period.
Overview
The work consists of two elongated panels, each set against a vivid red ground. Within each panel, five figures are presented in small, square compartments arranged in two rows. The upper row shows seated figures rendered with a serene demeanor, while the lower row combines seated and standing figures, some holding objects or assuming expressive gestures.
Technique & Style
Figures are outlined in crisp black lines and filled with flat areas of gold, white, and red pigment, creating a stylized, two‑dimensional effect. The surrounding borders feature interlaced green and black motifs reminiscent of woven textiles. The paint surface shows areas of wear, indicating the work’s age and the effects of long‑term exposure.
Artist & collection
