Artwork
Buddha in Temple of Wat Leip, Bangkok
Buddha in Temple of Wat Leip, Bangkok is a photographic photography by Unknown. It dates from 1904 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The image is a black‑and‑white photograph taken in 1904 that records a large seated Buddha within the Wat Leip temple in Bangkok.
About this work
Overview
The image is a black‑and‑white photograph taken in 1904 that records a large seated Buddha within the Wat Leip temple in Bangkok. The figure rests cross‑legged on an elaborately patterned pedestal, its hands placed on the lap and a sash draped over the shoulders. Behind the statue a wall covered in intricate carvings and painted motifs provides a richly textured backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The Buddha is portrayed in a tranquil pose, its serene facial expression and the simplicity of the cross‑legged posture conveying a sense of meditative calm. The sash and the ornate pedestal underscore the reverence afforded to the figure, while the surrounding ritual objects—small tables, vases and a chair—suggest a space prepared for devotional activities.
Technique & Style
The use of chiaroscuro‑like lighting accentuates the texture of the stone or bronze surface and the intricate detailing of the pedestal and wall.
Captured in monochrome, the photograph employs strong contrasts between light and shadow, highlighting the statue’s three‑dimensional form against the darker background. The composition frames the Buddha centrally, with foreground elements providing scale and context. The use of chiaroscuro‑like lighting accentuates the texture of the stone or bronze surface and the intricate detailing of the pedestal and wall.
History & Provenance
The print forms part of a series of images acquired from the dealer W.H. Lord in the year of its creation, 1904. It was mounted for display, indicating its intended use as a documentary or decorative object in early twentieth‑century collections that sought visual records of Southeast Asian religious sites.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Buddha in Temple of Wat Mahan, Bangkok
Siamese bronze sculpture of Buddha, 14th or 15th century, V&A Museum
Sandstone sculpture of head of Buddha, Siam, 9th century A.D., V&A Museum, London
Cambodian Bayon style sandstone sculpture of head of Buddha, 10th century A.D., V&A Museum, London
Buddha
The Buddha Amida, from the triptych Approach of the Amida Trinity
Bejeweled Buddha Preaching
The Jina Buddha Ratnasambhava
Buddha in the Preaching Attitude
Bronze Cambodian sculpture of Buddha, ca. 13th century, V&A Museum, London