Twelve Buddhas and Kobo Daishi (Jusanbutsu)

1604

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Twelve Buddhas and Kobo Daishi (Jusanbutsu) is a 1604 by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1604 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a tall, narrow scene with twelve floating figures in circles, all dressed in simple robes. At the bottom, one figure sits on a raised platform, holding a scroll. The background is a warm brown, while the robes and halos glow in bright red and gold. Clouds swirl around the top figures, and the whole scene feels layered and busy. The seated figure at the bottom is likely the main subject, surrounded by the others in a kind of hierarchy. The red robes stand out sharply against the muted tones, drawing your eye. Look up Baroque next to see how this style’s drama fits into world art.