Immortals Riding Dragons: Section of a Tomb Pediment
Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), 1st century
Medium
Gray earthenware with traces of slip and polychrome pigments
Classification
ceramics
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
133709
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
These triangular sculptures originally fit under the pitched roof of a burial chamber constructed of clay bricks. The position of similar panels discovered intact suggests that they originally formed two ends of a pediment that divided a chamber in half. The panels are carved and painted to depict winged figures mounted on dragons striding over hills or waves. In Han mythology, such beings are described as immortals (xian). Having achieved eternal life, these immortals were endowed with the pow...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...