A Korean Portrait of Dokseong

Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), 19th century, opaque mineral pigments and ink on silk, Dokseong is painted in accordance with his traditional iconography, an older man with shaved head and white eyebrows seated under a pine tree on the ground in a semi-meditation pose, dressed in monk's robes, holding a rosary, painting is framed without glass.
Frame dimensions 46 1/4 x 38 in., Image size 39 1/4 x 31 in.
Dokseong (???, ????), commonly known as the Lonely Saint, is an important shamanic deity found on murals in Buddhist temples in Korea. Sometimes he is featured in his own shrine but more often found as one of a trinity of spirits together with Shanshin and Chilseong in a Three Saints Hall of the temple complex.

For a similar painting see the Lowe Museum in Miami. and many examples in temples in Korea including the Donghwasa Temple.

Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.lelandlittle.com

Repaired tear to upper center edge extending six inches downwards; some scattered losses to pigments; some water spots to upper left corner; some running of blue mineral pigment in lower right corner.