Artwork preview

Eleven-Headed Kannon on Mount Fudaraku

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a large scroll painting of Eleven-Headed Kannon on Mount Fudaraku, created by an unknown artist. The painting features a central figure of a serene female deity with multiple heads stacked on top of her main head, all facing different directions; she sits cross-legged on a lotus flower. Her main head is centrally positioned, and the additional ten heads are stacked vertically above it, each with distinct facial expressions. She wears intricate robes and jewelry, including a crown adorned with small orbs. The deity has her hands placed in her lap, holding various objects. She is surrounded by a halo with radiating lines. The background of the painting gradually darkens towards the bottom, with faint images of people and foliage. The painting is framed by a thin gold border, surrounded by a thicker brown border with a repeating pattern, all set against a black background. The image exudes a sense of calmness and serenity, characteristic of traditional Buddhist art.

Artwork details

Date:
13th century
Medium:
Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
Culture:
Japan
Dimensions:
345 × 624 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette