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The Ten Kings of Purgatory: King of Transformations of the Sixth Court

Unknown

1800

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

The Ten Kings of Purgatory: King of Transformations of the Sixth Court is a 1800 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1800 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a busy, colorful scene split into two parts. The top half has a group of people in bright robes—reds, greens, and blues—around a central figure with a fierce face. They’re standing on a platform with clouds and buildings behind them. The bottom half is chaotic: people in robes are floating or falling through mist, while others on a balcony watch. Notice how the figures in the top half stand still, while the bottom half looks like they’re in motion, almost like a dream. The colors are bold, and the lines are sharp, making everything feel dramatic. If you like this, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like it.

The story of this work

Overview

The painting *The Ten Kings of Purgatory: King of Transformations of the Sixth Court* was created in 1800 by an unknown artist. It was donated by Miss Fortescue and added to the collection in 1869, as recorded in the Asia Department registers following a 2022 provenance research project.

Read the full account in the museum source.