Artwork preview

Benzaiten and Fifteen Attendants

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a large female figure standing on a lotus flower. She has long black hair and wears a crown, a robe, and holds a sword in her right hand and a lotus flower in her left. A halo encircles her, with flames above. The figure stands on a tiered platform, surrounded by 15 smaller female attendants. The attendants are arranged around her in three tiers. The lower tier consists of five attendants seated on the ground. The middle tier has six attendants seated on the ground to either side. The upper tier consists of four attendants standing behind the central figure. The background of the image is beige-colored paper or silk. The image has a brown border, and there are several objects on the ground around the platform.

Artwork details

Date:
13th century
Medium:
Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
Culture:
Japan
Dimensions:
468 × 624 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette