Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a distemper painting. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography features the Buddha alongside a monk, a horse, and a cart, all set against a backdrop of clouds.
This 1849 distemper-on-cloth painting is a religious work depicting a narrative scene centered on the Buddha. The iconography features the Buddha alongside a monk, a horse, and a cart, all set against a backdrop of clouds. The inclusion of the horse and cart suggests a journey or procession, likely referencing a significant event in the Buddha's life, while the clouds may symbolize a celestial or spiritual realm.
The presence of the monk further emphasizes the religious and instructional nature of the scene, representing the monastic community and the path of Buddhist devotion.
Technique & Style
Created in 1849 by an anonymous artist, this religious painting utilizes distemper as its primary medium, applied onto a cloth support. The work measures approximately 99.1 centimeters in height and 73.7 centimeters in width. Stylistically, the composition features a narrative arrangement depicting specific figures and elements, including a Buddha, a monk, a horse, a cart, and clouds.
These visual components are rendered to convey a spiritual scene characteristic of the genre. The application of pigment on fabric defines the material handling of the piece, distinguishing it from works executed on rigid panels or walls.
History & Provenance
The work titled Untitled was created in 1849 by an anonymous painter using distemper on cloth. It belongs to the religious genre and portrays Buddha, a monk, a horse, a cart and clouds. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on display.
Its provenance is limited to its acquisition by the museum, with no documented commission or previous owners recorded. The dating is based on the inception date recorded for the work, and its physical dimensions are noted as 99.1 cm in height and 73.7 cm in width.
The Untitled painting of 1849, executed in distemper on cloth, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its physical dimensions are recorded as 99.1 cm in height and 73.7 cm in width. The work is classified as a painting within the museum's holdings and is identified as a religious piece depicting a Buddha, monk, cart, horse, and clouds.
No specific inventory or accession number is documented in the available records, and no exhibition history is attested in the sources consulted.
Overview
This untitled painting, rendered in distemper on cloth, depicts a long, vertical scene. It portrays two monks guiding a white horse, which in turn pulls a heavily laden cart along a steep mountain trail. While the artist remains unknown, the work exhibits stylistic characteristics consistent with Tibetan thangka paintings from the 19th century, offering a glimpse into the region's artistic traditions.
Artist & collection
