Untitled

Unknown

ca. 6th–7th century · Pigments on mud plaster · Asian Art

This wall painting was part of a composition that embellished the interior of a temple cut into the soft rock of the Kizil cliffs. The monk, shown in the pious act of offering a flower, was probably placed near a Parinirvana (death of the Buddha) image. Small details such as his shirt and outer robe provide a rare glimpse of the appearance of a member of the Buddhist community at the time.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 6th–7th century

Medium

Pigments on mud plaster

Culture

China (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1942