Khrua Inkhong

THAILAND; Bangkok period

Khrua Inkhong was a monk and palace painter during the rule of King Rama IV (reigned 1851–1868). The murals he painted in Wat Bowon were highly praised by the abbot, who later returned to secular life and became King Rama IV. Because of the recognition he received from the king, he was invited by several temples to paint murals. His works include paintings such as Annual Festival of Wat Phra Phutthabat in the Ordination Hall of Wat Maha Samanaram in Phetchaburi. Khrua Inkhong had many followers, and as a result, his unique painting style gradually formed a school that vastly impacted the regions around Bangkok, Saraburi, and Ayutthaya.
The murals Khrua Inkhong produced exhibit a new evolution in technique and style of Thai painting. His painting style incorporated Western art techniques into Thai traditional murals and Buddhist iconography. Though he had never been abroad, he was influenced by the Europeans who lived in Thailand, and from the prevalent circulation of Western magazines and photos.