Portrait of the Sinhalese King Sri Vikrama Raja Sinha (r. 1798–1815)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This portrait of the last Kandyan king shows him displaying his regalia: the six-pointed crown, a long shirt (kamisiya), a tunic (bo-hettya), and a cape (mante), over which hangs a floral pendant. The hand gestures mimic those of the Buddha: one raised, the other lowered and holding the robe. Such portraits are rare and were probably produced as presentation gifts for visiting diplomats.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art