Life of the Buddha. 1800s. pigment on fabric. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Bunker in honor of Ronald Otsuka. 2001.893.

overall height: 117 in, 297.18 cm; overall width: 79 in, 200.66 cm; image height: 114 in, 289.5600 cm; image width: 76 in, 193.0400 cm

Bottom center, in brown cartouche

Arts of Asia

Arts of Asia

This object is currently on view

Life of the Buddha Thailand 1800s Pigment on fabric Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Bunker in honor of Ronald Otsuka 2001.893 This large painting depicts scenes from the life of the Buddha. This type of painting is like the style that would have been painted on the North or South walls (to the left and right of the main Buddha image) of a Thai temple. The scenes depicted are The Great Renunciation (where Siddhartha’s family lies asleep), The Great Departure, The Cutting of the Hair, Guatama the Ascetic and Indra with the Three-Stringed Lute. These are all popular scenes in the life of Gautama Buddha, which were used as teaching devices.

n.d.-2000, Acala Gallery, Bangkok Thailand; 2000-2001, Emma and John Bunker; 2001, DAM collection, gift of Emma and John Bunker.