Burmese Watercolour ‘Mandalay Monk Procession’, by Maung Saya Saung

This beautiful watercolour of a procession of monks walking by the Mandalay Palace is by Maung Saya Saung (1898-1952).

The monks are shielding themselves with their parasols from the hot sun.

The painting is signed ‘M. Saung’ in the lower left corner.

Maung Saya Saung was an early adopter of the Western style of painting in Burma, and in that was influenced by the fellow Burmese painter Maung Maung Gyi. According to Ranard (2009, p. 122), who illustrates several of his paintings, Maung Saya Saung  became known as Ye Min Tha or ‘the Prince of Watercolour’. He was mostly a plein air painter.

Maung Saya Saung’s paintings are held in collections around the world and in the National Museum of Myanmar.

The painting here is in fine condition.