Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a distemper painting. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 24.28.2
- Credit line
- Fletcher Fund, 1924
About this work
Technique & Style
No condition report, surface treatment, or stylistic attribution beyond the anonymous painter designation is documented in the available sources.
The work is executed in distemper on cloth, a water-based paint medium bound with a glue or casein-type adhesive that was widely used for devotional imagery in this period. The support is a textile ground rather than a conventional panel or stretched canvas, consistent with practices for portable religious works. The composition is vertical, measuring 71.1 cm in height by 42.2 cm in width, giving the figure of the man a narrow, elongated format suited to its devotional character.
The painting is classified within the museum's paintings holdings, and its handling reflects the anonymous workshop tradition associated with such religious panels of cloth.
No condition report, surface treatment, or stylistic attribution beyond the anonymous painter designation is documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The work is dated to 1700 and is executed in distemper on cloth. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains located. No further information about its commission, earlier ownership, or chain of custody is documented in the available sources.
The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is located. It is executed in distemper on cloth and dates to 1700. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
This untitled painting, rendered in distemper on cloth, depicts a solitary monk. Dressed in deep red robes, the figure is shown seated on a low platform with hands folded and eyes partially closed, conveying a state of quiet contemplation. The artwork's medium contributes to its distinctive visual qualities, presenting a muted and serene aesthetic.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a monk in deep red attire, is presented in a posture of introspection. His folded hands and half-closed eyes indicate a state of meditation or spiritual focus. This depiction aligns with Buddhist iconography, where such serene portrayals often serve as aids for contemplation and reflect core tenets of the faith, emphasizing inner calm and spiritual discipline.
Artist & collection
