Shakyamuni with two attendants

1300s

China, Yuan (1271-1368) or early Ming dynasty

(1368-1644)

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk

Measurements

Overall: 293.5 x 136 cm (115 9/16 x 53 9/16 in.); Painting only: 218.4 x 112.8 cm (86 x 44 7/16 in.); with knobs: 293.5 x 144.2 cm (115 9/16 x 56 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

John L. Severance Fund 1982.25

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

This painting was made on 3 vertical panels of silk stitched together. The joins are visible just outside of Shakyamuni's left and right shoulders.

Description

The historic Buddha Shakyamuni is seated on an elaborately decorated pedestal and flanked by two attendants making gestures of devotion. The unknown artist used gold and deeply hued pigments to depict the luxurious fabrics, particularly the golden medallions of swirling dragons and clouds on the Buddha’s red robe.

The painting itself is mounted in a Buddhist style with two tiers of fine silk borders. The inner border of gold brocade on a cream background surrounds the painting. The outer border is yellow silk; decorative silk strips, called futai, dangle from the top hanging bar.