Page 60 - Christies Indian and Himalayan Art Sept 2015

98
A PAINTING OF ARHATS KALIKA AND VAJRIPUTRA
TIBET, 17TH/18TH CENTURY

The elder Vajriputra seated on a large throne draped with an
ornate textile, holding a fy whisk in his left hand, wearing colorful
billowing robes, his head backed by a translucent halo, devotees
seated around him, and the elder Kalika seated in the foreground on
a pink lotus blossom, wearing colorful voluminous robes, his hands
holding jeweled ornaments, backed by a blue halo, a devotee standing
below, set amidst a verdant and mountainous landscape
Opaque pigments and gold on textile
28 x 16 in. (71.1 x 40.6 cm.)

$18,000-24,000

PROVENANCE:

Rubin Museum of Art, acquired in New York, 11 May 2004

PUBLISHED:

Himalayan Art Resource (himalayanart.org), item no. 65373

The inscriptions, to the proper right of Vajriputra and below Kalika,
translate to:
On the good continent of Jambudvipa [Southern Continent] is the noble
elder Kalika, surrounded by 1,100 arhats; homage to the one holding a pair
of gold earrings.

[5] On the Island of Singha [Sri Lanka] is the noble elder Vajriputra,
surrounded by 1,000 arhats; homage to the one performing a pointing
gesture and holding a fy whisk.