A sixteenth-century arhat painting commissioned by Queen Munjeong : "Deoksewi, 153rd of the 500 arhats," in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

The painting of the "Deoksewi, 153rd of the 500 arhats," in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art examplifies the unique characteristics of Korean arhat paintings. Commissioned during the reign of King Myeongjong (r. 1545-67) by his mother Queen Munjeong (1502-65), a fervent Buddhist devotee, this painting reflects both the reverance for arhats during this period and the characteristic of court-sponsored Buddhist art. This paper will examine the LACMA "Deoksewi" painting's composition and style as well as the circumstances of its patronage in order to reveal both its significance and the unique characteristics of Korean arhat paintings. [Abridged Publication Abstract]