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Untitled

Unknown

1900

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Early Modern

Dominant colour

Untitled is a 1900 paint by Unknown, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1900
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting is packed with symbols and diagrams. On the left, there are geometric shapes, a spiral, and what looks like a sundial. The middle section has a big circular clock with stars and planets around it, plus rows of tiny buildings. The right side has more writing and a row of human figures in different poses. The background is mostly brown and beige, with some red and blue accents. The circular clock in the center seems to show the night sky, with a moon and stars. The tiny buildings below might represent cities or temples. The writing around the edges looks like an old script, possibly instructions or a map. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.

The story of this work

Overview

The painting on cloth depicts a schematic representation of a cosmic man, with the upper section illustrating the heavens, the central area showing the mortal world through a cosmographical diagram of concentric circles, and the lower portion portraying hell with scenes of torture. Acquired by the Museum in London in 1972, the work is attributed to an unknown artist from 1900.

Read the full account in the museum source.