Mount of Five Treasures | Nicholas Roerich | 1933

Nicholas Roerich's Mount of Five Treasures (1933) is a striking depiction of a sacred Himalayan peak, likely inspired by Kangchenjunga, which in Tibetan tradition symbolizes five repositories of divine wealth—gold, silver, gems, grain, and sacred texts. Roerich’s signature use of luminous, layered colors creates a mystical atmosphere, with the mountain bathed in ethereal pinks, purples, and blues that evoke both spiritual transcendence and the awe-inspiring power of nature. The painting reflects Roerich’s deep fascination with Eastern spirituality, Theosophy, and his own journeys through Central Asia. By eliminating unnecessary detail and emphasizing the mountain’s monumental form, Roerich transforms the landscape into an almost otherworldly vision, where the earthly and the divine merge. The painting’s soft yet radiant glow suggests an inner light, reinforcing its spiritual undertones and Roerich’s belief in mountains as sacred spaces of wisdom and enlightenment.