A watercolour painting which depicts a spiritual being holding a hooked rod. The being has red skin, and is wearing wide pants that end just above the knee. The pants are decorated with multicoloured stripes and curl outward at the hips. An inverted, blue triangular piece of fabric hangs down from the waist. The being's hair is long and black, and curls outward in two thick sections. It has half-moon shaped eyes, a thin moustache, and stretched earlobes that extend to its chin. The being is holding a long, thin rod with a hooked end in both of its hands. The painting's background is blue. Blue and white oblong rings radiate outward from the figure's head and shoulders.

• History Of Use

  The imagery is possibly associated with ritual healing in Sri Lanka. The set of watercolours (3392/3-34) is said to depict spirits that inhabit planets, or deviyo (minor gods) or rakshas and yakkas (evil or mischievous beings). These beings are often depicted in masked dances and exorcisms.

• Narrative

  The collector, Dr. Michael Egan, wrote his doctoral thesis on healing rituals in Sri Lanka. His fieldwork was carried out in the south of Sri Lanka, in the village of Kadurupokuna (Hambantota District), between Sept. 1965 and Nov. 1966.

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• Type of Item painting
• Culture Sinhalese
• Measurements height 37.4 cm, width 27.4 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Michael John Egan, Carol Egan
• Received from Carol Egan

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• Made in Sri Lanka

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• Creation Date between 1960 and 1966
• Collection Date between 1965 and 1966
• Ownership Date before 1977, before October 2, 2019
• Acquisition Date on October 2, 2019

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• Item Classes paintings; works on paper
• Condition good
• Accession Number 3392/0034