Painting thumbnail 1
Painting thumbnail 2
+12
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Painting

mid 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Thailand (made)

Banner paintings of this type were produced to decorate the image house (bot) within a Thai temple (wat). The bot is used for the assembly of monks for sermons and for ordination ceremonies. These buildings are often decorated with mural and banner paintings illustrating scenes from Buddhist literature. This painting depicts in the upper scene the Buddha flanked by two disciples. The calm of the figures contrasts dramatically with the lower section in which the meditating Buddha is seen resisting the forces of Mara (the personification of evil), in a scene known as Maravijaya (victory over Mara). Beneath the seated Buddha appears the goddess of the Earth who wrings from her hair the water which overwhelms Buddha's assailants, seen submitting to Buddha amidst the swirling waters. Note the presence of a European (Dutch) horseman in 17th century dress amongst the assailants.


Object details

Categories
Buddhism
Paintings
Object type
Painting
Materials and techniques
Gouache on cotton
Gouache
Cotton
Painted
Brief description
Buddhist temple painting (gouache on cotton), Thailand (Siam), mid 19th century.
Physical description
Banner paintings of this type were produced to decorate the image house (bot) within a Thai temple (wat). The bot is used for the assembly of monks for sermons and for ordination ceremonies. These buildings are often decorated with mural and banner paintings illustrating scenes from Buddhist literature. This painting depicts in the upper scene the Buddha flanked by two disciples. The calm of the figures contrasts dramatically with the lower section in which the meditating Buddha is seen resisting the forces of Mara (the personification of evil), in a scene known as Maravijaya (victory over Mara). Beneath the seated Buddha appears the goddess of the Earth who wrings from her hair the water which overwhelms Buddha's assailants, seen submitting to Buddha amidst the swirling waters. Note the presence of a European (Dutch) horseman in 17th century dress amongst the assailants.
Dimensions
  • Height: 220.7cm (max.)
  • Top width: 95.5cm
  • Bottom width: 96.5cm
Style
Ratanakosin
Gallery label
  • The Buddha and Two Chief Disciples 1800–1875 Ratanakosin period The standing Buddha is flanked by his two chief disciples, Sariputta and Mogallana. In the scene beneath, the meditating Buddha is attacked by the armies of Mara, the embodiment of evil. Below him the earth goddess wrings out her hair, releasing a flood that sweeps away the attackers. Banner paintings of this type were used in Thai monasteries to decorate the buildings that housed Buddhist images. Thailand Gouache on cloth Museum no. IS.179-1965(03/08/2015)
Subject depicted
Buddhism
Bibliographic reference
Clarke, John: Arts of Asia, vol. 45, no. 5, September - October 2015, "The Buddha image in Asia: Phase One of the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art", p.119, pl. 12.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.179-1965

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 12, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O40390/painting-unknown/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest