Arhats

CHINA; Yuan dynasty

This painting depicts a group of five Indian and Chinese Arhats with transparent gold nimbuses. Some of the Arhats hold their hands within their sleeves, one holds a long-handled incense burner, another leans on a bamboo stick, and the Arhat on the bottom left holds a bell and a vajra. The Arhat at the top of the picture wearing a hood is thought to be Bodhidharma.
There are four smaller attendants painted beside the Arhats. One attendant holds the bottom of an aged Arhat’s staff, helping to guide him forward. Another carries a wrapped bundle. The dark-skinned attendant in the bottom right corner holds a metal staff topped with five rings. The figures are carefully arranged and finely detailed. Their colorful robes are depicted with both fluid and rigid lines. The background is lined with pine trees and mountains, reflecting the influence of artworks from the Imperial Painting Academy of the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279).