“Maitreya the Conqueror” is a 1926 religious painting by Nicholas Roerich, created using tempera on canvas. This work is part of the Symbolism movement and belongs to Roerich’s “Maitreya” series. It is currently housed in the Nizhny Novgorod State Museum of Fine Arts in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
The artwork depicts a figure kneeling in reverence before a colossal statue of Maitreya, a Buddhist figure prognosticated to appear as a future Buddha. The sculpted figure is carved into a rocky mountain, embodying an aura of timelessness and spiritual serenity. The backdrop showcases a mystical landscape, featuring jagged mountains beneath a dramatic sky painted with hues of pink, purple, and blue, indicating twilight or dawn. This arresting composition blends the celestial with the terrestrial, emphasizing the spiritual theme central to the piece. The use of tempera on canvas enhances the mystical quality, lending a soft yet intense vibrancy to the overall artwork.