Manuthiha, Guardian at the Shwe-Dagon Pagoda; Corner of great pagoda

Physical description

This photograph shows a European man in uniform standing infront of a manuthiha, a seated creature with a human nead and the body of a lion.

Place of Origin

Burma (photographed)

Date

1852 (photographed)

Artist/maker

McCosh, John (Dr), born 1805 - died 1885 (photographer)

Materials and Techniques

calotype

Dimensions

Height: 15.8 cm image, Width: 12.7 cm image, Height: 33.2 cm mount, Width: 26.8 cm mount

Descriptive line

'Corner of great Pagoda' by John McCosh, calotype, Burma, 1850s

Exhibition History

The Photographers’ Pilgrimage: Exploring Buddhist sites (Gallery 17a and 18a 01/01/2004-22/06/2009)
Impressed by Light: British Photographs from Paper Negatives, 1840-1860 (Musée d'Orsay 01/01/2005-07/09/2008)
Impressed by Light: British Photographs from Paper Negatives, 1840-1860 (National Gallery of Art, Washington 01/03/2002-04/05/2008)
Impressed by Light: British Photographs from Paper Negatives, 1840-1860 (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 31/12/2007-31/12/2009)

Labels and date

Manuthiha, Guardian at the Shwe-Dagon Pagoda
Rangoon (Yangon), About AD 600
By John McCosh (1805–85)

A manuthiha is a seated creature with a human head and the body of a lion. Believed to ward off danger, they are sometimes found guarding the corners of a pagoda. John McCosh was a doctor and amateur photographer stationed in Burma during the Anglo-Burmese War of 1852. This rare photograph is one of the earliest surviving images of the region. [60 words]

Albumen print, 1852–3
Museum no. 85,300

Techniques

Calotype

Subjects depicted

Buddhism; Burma

Categories

Photographs; Buddhism

Collection code

SSEA