Ushnishavijaya Enthroned in the Womb of a Stupa
Unknown Artist
dated 1510–19
Medium
Distemper on cloth
Dimensions
Image: 28 7/8 × 23 1/8 in. (73.3 × 58.7 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture
Nepal
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Zimmerman Family Collection, Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 2012
Accession Number
2012.455
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking Nepalese painting from 1510–19 portrays Ushnishavijaya, a revered Buddhist goddess associated with longevity and protection, enthroned within the symbolic “womb” of a stupa. Created in distemper on cloth, the work reflects the rich tradition of Himalayan devotional art, where such portable paintings served as aids for meditation and teaching. The composition places the goddess at the center of a sacred architectural form, surrounded by bodhisattvas and Buddhist motifs that underscore themes of enlightenment and spiritual refuge. Dating to the early sixteenth century, the piece c...