The artwork titled “Nagarjuna, Conqueror of the Serpent” was created by Nicholas Roerich in 1925. Rendered in tempera on canvas, this piece belongs to the Symbolism art movement and is a part of the “Banners of the East” series. It is a religious painting with dimensions of 73.4 cm by 117.4 cm and currently resides in the Roerich Museum in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork depicts a serene mountainous landscape bathed in soft, pastel hues of pink, purple, and blue. A central, dramatic element features a coiled serpent against the backdrop of the mountains, from which rises a radiant, mystical figure. This mesmerizing figure is reminiscent of sacred iconography and exudes a spiritual aura. In the foreground, a figure clad in a red robe sits in meditative contemplation, observing the serpentine entity ahead. The scene evokes a sense of transcendence and spiritual conquest, aligning with the symbolism and religious themes associated with Nagarjuna, the conqueror of serpents.
