Life of the Buddha - Great Departure

MYANMAR

Produced during the Konbaung dynasty (1752–1885), this painting is part of an illustrated manuscript of the Malalankara Vatthu, a popular Burmese collection of stories from the Life of the Buddha compiled by Dutiya Medi Hsayadaw in 1798. The manuscript contains 42 folds, each 48 cm in height and 19 cm in width. Within the manuscript, there are several illustrations of Prince Siddhartha’s midnight departure from the palace to seek enlightenment.
On the left, Prince Siddhartha is shown pulling back a curtain to look upon his sleeping wife, Yasodhara, and his son, Rahula. Below, a group of palace maids sleep in the courtyard. Moving to the right, the faithful charioteer Chandaka kneels on the ground and holds the bridle of Siddhartha’s horse Kanthaka. In the upper right corner, the prince leaves the palace on horseback. The Four Heavenly Kings hold Kanthaka’s hooves, lifting the horse over the palace wall. Chandaka grasps the horse’s tail, seemingly reluctant to part with the prince. The picture is brightly colored in red, blue, and green. The generous application of gold, the colorful background, and carefully depicted architecture are all features of the painting style of Burmese court artists.