Painting study · Ink painting
The Fourth King of Helllate 1300s · Study 2019.224
Artist not recorded
late 1300s
Recorded as Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold ink on silk, this vertical work measures 45.3 × 63 cm using the museum’s image dimensions. Explore the museum’s context and compare the format with a wall of your choice.
Museum collection reference. This work is not offered for sale by Physical Art For Crypto. Museum attribution does not imply a partnership or endorsement.
Context from the museum
Originally part of a set of ten, this hanging scroll depicts the Fourth King of Hell. Accompanied by his secretary, the king with bulging eyes is seated at the center, overseeing how well his verdict is being conducted. On the bottom, sinners are suffering in a giant cauldron filled with boiling water, constantly pierced by a guard’s burning spears. Ready-made Buddhist paintings from China, created in professional workshops in the port city of Ningbo, are believed to one of the important inspirations for this hell scene.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
A detail to notice
As the concept of salvation became increasingly more emphasized in Buddhist schools in medieval East Asia, the gruesome depiction of various hells was given an important role: to promote Buddhist ethics. In the Buddhist infernal otherworld, the Ten Kings of Hell serve as judges of the deceased to determine their fates, including the type and severity of punishment.
Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected image measurement for The Fourth King of Hell is 45.3 cm wide and 63 cm high, equivalent to approximately 17.8 × 24.8 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.72:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.29 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.
On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 15.1% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 127.3 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.
Questions to bring to your own collection
With The Fourth King of Hell in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold ink on silk, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.
- Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 45.3 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
- What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?
Explore physical scale
How large would this format feel on your wall?
Use this museum work’s recorded format as a reference. Adjust a blank wall and optional frame allowance to compare proportions. The museum painting is an educational reference and is not for sale here.
Calculation: outside width = recorded width + twice your frame allowance. This is a proportion study, not an installation assessment. It excludes furniture, hardware, load capacity, depth and delivery clearance. The display image may include margins absent from the recorded measurement.
Compare formats with the studio collection
These Lei-Kol works have the closest width-to-height ratios in the current catalog. This is a geometry comparison, not a claim of artistic similarity, equivalent value, or association with the museum artist.
| Painting | Width × height | Format ratio | USD catalog price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Moon | 30 × 40 in | 0.75:1 | $1,199 |
| Gray Day | 24 × 36 in | 0.67:1 | $1,199 |
| Waterfalls | 24 × 36 in | 0.67:1 | $999 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
Related studies
1235 · Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
Arhat
Artist not recorded · Hanging scroll; ink and slight color on silk
1300–1350 · Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
Standing Ksitigarbha
Artist not recorded · Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
1314–17 · Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333)
Reeds and Geese
Yishan Yining [Issan Ichinei] (Chinese, 1247–1317) · hanging scroll; ink on paper
late 1400s · Japan, Muromachi period (1392–1573)
Chinese Literatus in an Autumn Landscape
Josui Sōen (Japanese, active c. 1489–1500) · hanging scroll; ink on paper
Ready to describe what you want in your own space?
Start an artwork inquiry ↗