Pindola Bharadvaja, the First Venerable Luohan 賓度羅跋羅墮闍尊者像

Object Details

• Artist

  Formerly attributed to Wu Daozi (傳)吳道子 (active ca. 710-760)

• Label

  The subject of this painting, Pindola Bharadvaja (Binduluo Boluoduoshe), was one of the Buddha's main disciples. He was a vigouous exponent of the Buddhist Law (dharma), and has manifested himself on several occasions to pious Chinese believers. Pindola has a voice like a lion's roar, and is often depicted with extraordinarily long eyebrows, a physical attribute for which he is sometimes named Changmai seng. Pindola was one of the first arhats to be depicted in China, and is the only luohan afforded special worship. He is said to dwell with eleven-hundred luohan protogees in the Western Continent of Apara-godaniya (Xi Qutuoni zhou).

  In this portrait, Pindola is seated below banana leaves and lichen-studded rocks in a chair made of gnarled branches, one of which is shaped like a dragon. He holds an elaborate, long-handled incense burner in his left hand, and a white rosary is wrapped around his left forearm. He has a dignified, but stern, countenance with a prominent nose and jutting chin, which is covered with the stubble of a white beard. He has long white eyebrows and white hair that is streaked with gold. The patches of his robe are decorated with interlocking circles of white dots, while darker strips of fabric bear the repeated symbol of the Wheel of the Law. The folds of his robes, his rumpled leggings, and his sandals of woven straw are rendered with particular attention and skill.

  To learn more about this and similar objects, visit http://www.asia.si.edu/SongYuan/default.asp Song and Yuan Dynasty Painting and Calligraphy.

• Provenance

  ?-1959

  Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1959-1970

  Agnes E. Meyer inherited upon the death of her husband, Eugene Meyer [2]

  1970-1992

  Ruth Meyer Epstein (1921-2007), by descent from her mother, Agnes E. Meyer [3]

  From 1992

  The National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, bequeathed by Ruth Meyer Epstein in 1992 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See note 4.

  [2] Eugene Meyer died in Washington D.C. on July 17, 1959. Upon his death, his wife, Agnes E. Meyer inherited the entirety of the couple's collection.

  [3] The object was part of the Estate of Agnes E. Meyer. Her daughter, Ruth Meyer Epstein inherited the work upon her death.

  [4] See Ruth Meyer Epstein’s Deed of Gift, dated July 9, 1992, copy in object file. This work is part of the Museum’s Freer Gallery of Art Collection.

  Research updated on June 27, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Guardians of the Law: Chinese Luohan Painting (December 1, 2003 to May 23, 2004)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer ((1875-1959) and (1887-1970))

  Mrs. Ruth Meyer Epstein (1921-2007)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Ruth Meyer Epstein

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1300s

• Name

  Epstein, Ruth Meyer, Meyer, Eugene and Agnes E.

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Prayer beads, Art, Chinese Art, Pindola, Yuan dynasty (1279 - 1368)

• Culture

  Buddhists, Chinese

• Object Type

  Paintings