Wat Suwannaram Ordination Hall: Life of the Buddha - Great Departure

THAILAND, Bangkok; Bangkok period

Painted on the east wall of the ordination hall of Wat Suwannaram, this mural shows Prince Siddhartha leaving the palace in the middle of the night to seek enlightenment. The palace is covered with colorful, detailed patterns. The prince stands below the steps by the entrance, holding the bridle of his white horse, Kanthaka. Maids sleep in the courtyard, resting their heads on their hands. The prince’s wife, Yasodhara, is visible on the upper right, sleeping peacefully within the palace. A high wall fills the foreground. As is typical of Thai paintings, the mural simultaneously features profile, isometric, and bird’s-eye perspectives.