Context (CMS Context)
This painting forms part of a group of 32 paintings (2012.12-2012.43), 31 of which represent Burmese men and woman (of which two are monks), and one landscape. 2012.37 has the following inscription; ‘Mg. Tun. Hla. Artist.’ It is therefore possible that the remaining 31 pictures, which are painted in a similar style, were made by the same artist. However, the artist’s name signed on 2012.37 does not correspond with the signatures seen on Mg Tun Hla’s paintings at the South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts Collection (SADACC). It is possible therefore that the Museum’s paintings are not by Mg Tun Hla.

Mg [Maung] Tun Hla, also known as M.T. Hla (Later known as U Tun Hla), was one of the first painters to adopt the western style. He mostly worked in watercolour. He was a member of the Burma Art Club (BAC), a prestigious art institution in Rangoon established around 1914. It was based in the Rangoon Government High School. Founded by amateur British painters, it was intended to teach Western style painting to Burmese artists.

Event Date 31/7/2012
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Portrait of a monk in robe with palm fan behind his head. Oil painting on canvas, not mounted, by ?Mg [Maung] Tun Hla. Condition: fair. Bad war and tear around edges. Speck of pink paint on chin. Fragile due it not being mounted.
Event Date 31/7/2012
Author: maa