Scenes from Life of the Buddha

Art Historical Context

This exquisite accordion-fold album, known in Burmese as a *abaik*, presents scenes from the life of Buddha in vibrant watercolors, ink and gold on mulberry paper. Created in Mandalay during the 1880s, it features tooled leather covers that reflect the refined craftsmanship of the royal. Measuring just over 21 inches in height, compact format allowed the unfolding narrative to be viewed sequentially, guiding the viewer through key episodes of the Buddha’s journey. Attributed to the patronage of Kings Mindon and Thibaw, the final monarchs of the Konbaung dynasty, the album was produced in a period of cultural flourishing just before British annexation. Mandalay served as the last great center of Burmese Buddhist art and learning, where royal workshops preserved and innovated traditional manuscript forms. The use of gold and delicate pigments underscores its status as a high-art object intended for devotional or courtly contemplation. As a *parabaik*, this work exemplifies Myanmar’s distinctive contribution to Buddhist visual storytelling, blending literary narrative with luminous painting techniques. Its recent acquisition by the Metropolitan Museum of Art highlights the enduring spiritual and artistic legacy of late 19th-century Burmese court culture.

About the Artist

King Mindon|King Tibaw (Burmese|Burmese) · 1853 |1878 –1878 |1885

Burmese, r. 1853–78|Burmese, r. 1878–85