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The Ten Kings of Purgatory: King Qinguang of the First Court

Unknown

1800

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

The Ten Kings of Purgatory: King Qinguang of the First 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 is packed with strange, colorful scenes. At the top, a group of figures in robes sits on a raised platform, some holding scrolls. Below, a chaotic mix of people, animals, and monsters fills the space—some look angry, others are being dragged or beaten. Bright reds, blues, and greens stand out against a smoky green background. Notice how the figures in the top scene seem calm while the rest of the painting is wild. The artist used bold colors and dramatic contrasts to separate these two worlds. Look up Romanticism next to see how this style used emotion and drama in art.

The story of this work

Overview

The painting *The Ten Kings of Purgatory: King Qinguang of the First 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.