Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a distemper painting. It dates from 1649 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in Nepal in 1649, this distemper-on-wood panel depicts a goddess accompanied by floral elements.
Created in Nepal in 1649, this distemper-on-wood panel depicts a goddess accompanied by floral elements. Classified as a religious work, the painting's iconography centers on the divine female figure, a common subject in Himalayan spiritual art, though the specific deity remains unidentified in available records. The inclusion of flowers likely serves as symbolic attributes associated with the goddess's identity or powers, adhering to traditional religious visual languages of the region.
As an anonymous work, the piece represents the broader devotional artistic production of seventeenth-century Nepal rather than a specific artist's interpretation. The composition focuses entirely on these sacred figures and natural motifs, functioning as an object of veneration or ritual significance within its original cultural context.
Technique & Style
The work is an unsigned 1649 painting executed in distemper on a wooden support, measuring roughly 12.7 × 55.2 cm. Its creation took place in Nepal, and it entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains. The composition portrays a flower alongside a goddess, aligning with its religious genre and suggesting symbolic content typical of the period. Executed in distemper, the surface exhibits a matte finish and delicate tonal modulation characteristic of the medium.
No detailed condition report is provided in the documentation, and handling information is limited to its provenance through Doris Wiener and the Nancy Wiener Gallery.
History & Provenance
The work, executed in distemper on wood and dated 1649, was produced in Nepal. Its early ownership history is not documented in the available sources. The painting later passed into the holdings of Doris Wiener and the Nancy Wiener Gallery before entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held as part of the museum’s paintings classification.
No commission details, prior ownership chain preceding the Wiener holdings, specific accession number, or exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.
Overview
This untitled painting, rendered in distemper on a wooden panel, originates from the Kathmandu Valley around the 17th century. It depicts a four-armed goddess surrounded by vibrant floral motifs, characterized by a distinct flat and matte aesthetic. The artwork's creator remains unidentified, yet its style is characteristic of the artistic traditions prevalent in the region during that period.
Artist & collection
- Pair of Buddhist Manuscript Covers
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Back Cover
Untitled
Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Buddhist Panel
Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra"
Untitled
Untitled
Pair of Manuscript Covers with Twelve Durgas on Snow Lions Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini)
Untitled
Untitled
Buddhist Panel
