Untitled

Unknown

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

Armored figures are sometimes shown as devotees in the later cave temples at Kizil, at related sites such as Tumshuq, and in the secular wall paintings of Sogdia. They represent the ruling military elite who controlled the oasis kingdoms, such as those centered in Kucha on the northern part of the Silk Road and in Khotan on the southern branch.

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, 1951