The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 21, 2025

Entrance to the Nata Dewale Grounds, Kandy

c. 1880

Scowen & Co.

(British, active Ceylon, 1876–1895)
India, 19th century
Albumen print from glass plate negative
Image: 28 x 22.1 cm (11 x 8 11/16 in.); Paper: 28 x 22.1 cm (11 x 8 11/16 in.); Mounted: 35.4 x 27.5 cm (13 15/16 x 10 13/16 in.)
Gift of Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Barbara Timmer 2018.39
Location: Not on view

Description

This is probably the entrance to a site for the worship of Natha, the Ceylonese counterpart of the all-compassionate Buddhist deity Mahayana Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. The shrine in Kandy dedicated to him, considered an especially lucky and sacred place, was where some royal ceremonies were held, including that for the naming of new kings.
  • Bruno Tartarain, photovintagefrance, Arnaville, France
    Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Barbara Timmer, Beverly Hills, CA
    June 4, 2018
    the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Entrance to the Nata Dewale Grounds, Kandy|url=false|author=Scowen & Co.|year=c. 1880|access-date=21 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2018.39