Artwork
仏伝図|Scene from the Life of the Buddha
仏伝図|Scene from the Life of the Buddha is an ink painting. It dates from 1416 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The scene thus conveys core Buddhist teachings about enlightenment and the spread of his message.
The painting portrays a narrative episode from the Life of the Buddha, showing the historical Buddha seated in a palace interior with a male attendant and a female figure, elements identified in the catalog and Wikidata entry. The composition follows Buddhist iconographic conventions that emphasize the Buddha’s enlightened status through regal surroundings and serene posture, while the accompanying figures suggest disciples or patrons witnessing his teaching. Gold accents and rich pigments highlight the sacred context, reinforcing the work’s devotional function as a visual aid for meditation on the Buddha’s compassion and wisdom. The scene thus conveys core Buddhist teachings about enlightenment and the spread of his message.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in ink, color, and gold on silk, originally forming part of a wall panel and later remounted as a hanging scroll. Its painted surface measures 75 by 111.5 centimeters, a horizontal format suited to its narrative function. The combination of metallic gold with polychrome pigments on a silk ground is characteristic of early fifteenth-century Japanese religious painting, allowing for luminous decorative passages alongside detailed figural and architectural rendering of the palace scene.
History & Provenance
The work titled 仏伝図|Scene from the Life of the Buddha was produced in Japan in 1416 as a section of a wall panel, later transferred to silk and mounted as a hanging scroll using ink, color and gold. Its creation is documented within the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, which records the piece’s inception on 1416‑01‑01 and its physical dimensions of 75 × 111.5 cm. The painting depicts a Buddha surrounded by figures in a palace setting and is classified as religious art. Since its acquisition, it has remained in the museum’s custody, forming the core of its documented provenance.
The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as recorded in its Wikidata entry. No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources. Likewise, no exhibition history is documented in the materials consulted, so details of past displays, loans, or cataloguing within the museum cannot be confirmed from the supplied references.
Overview
This painting, titled "Scene from the Life of the Buddha" (仏伝図), is a section of what was once a larger wall panel, now presented as a hanging scroll. Executed with ink, color, and gold on silk, it portrays a narrative moment from the Buddha's biography, featuring various figures and architectural settings. The artwork's materials contribute to its opulent appearance, and its intricate details remain discernible despite its age.
Artist & collection
The White Path Between Two Rivers
The White Path Between Two Rivers
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Portrait of Priest Samyeongdang![The Guardian Generals of the Directions (Lokapalas) Dhritarashtra (East) [top] and Virudhaka (South) [bottom]](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/the-guardian-generals-of-the-directions-lokapalas-dhritarash--26a8da85b3fb4c5a-w320.webp)
The Guardian Generals of the Directions (Lokapalas) Dhritarashtra (East) [top] and Virudhaka (South) [bottom]
Buddhist Panel
The Banquet of Seowangmo (Xiwangmu), Queen Mother of the West
元 佚名 臨王振鵬 金明池圖 卷|Dragon Boat Regatta on Jinming Lake
