MacDiarmid, Douglas Kerr, 1922- :Buddhist study. 1945

Standing portrait of a young Buddhist figure in a black-edged pale yellow robe and white skirt. His left thumb and first finger form a circle, and his right hand is palm out towards the viewer. At his feet are plants (flowers and miniature trees) and behind him lies a river and Indian-style buildings with a red plain beyond. The figure may be a self-portrait.

The artist, who visited the Library in 1993 has provided further information about this work. It was painted in 1945 while he was a student boarding with Blanche Harding in Christchurch. He had recently read a book on Buddhism, which had a strong influence on him at the time and encouraged in him ideals of asceticism

Inscriptions: Verso - title and date in ball-point pen. Probably titled by the artist at the time of donation to the Library

Quantity: 1 watercolour(s).

Physical Description: Watercolour on paper, 348 x 252 mm

Provenance: Donation: Douglas MacDiarmid, Paris, 1980