Vaisravana

early 19th century

Painting, on European paper, varnished, depicting Vaisravana, seated in a temple upon a lotus throne; in his upheld hands he holds a knife and sceptre, he wears a conical crown and jewellery, and has a halo. On each side of the god is an attendant deva, the background is a parted curtain of the same material as the skirt. The two-storeyed temple is surmounted by a flag on a staff, and above the tiled roof are two white lotuses with yellow centres. On the mount is the Sinhalese description 'Vaisravana Devaya Rajayasaha Maligawa'.