Portrait of a Sri Lankan Tamil

Samuel Daniell

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This sensitive portrait of an unidentified Sri Lankan man of Tamil descent is a rare surviving sketch from the short-lived career of Samuel Daniell (1775–1811) younger brother of William Daniell (1769–1837) and nephew of Thomas Daniell (1749–1840), renowned illustrators of Indian landscapes and monuments in the late 18th century. The diminutive scale of this drawing suggests that it is a page from a sketchbook, and its freshness of execution and the artist’s empathy for his subject all point to this being a study from life. It reveals an artist at ease with his subject, creating a portrait that conveys the dignity and self-esteem to the anonymous sitter, whose proud demeanor is immediately apparent.

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