Page 14 - Fine Asian Art, Bonhams San Francisco June 27, 2017
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8013 (detail of back)
THANGKAS FROM THE VAN DER WEE COLLECTION
8013 The excellent tradition of the essence of the Buddha’s teachings
A THANGKA OF TSONGKHAPA [Gelug], may those who uphold, preserve, and spread the teachings
Central Tibet, 19th century fill the earth. The religious precepts of the stainless teaching and
Distemper with cloth; recto with gold Tibetan inscriptions; verso practice, may it flourish until the end of samsara.
imbued with red ink handprints and lengthy Tibetan black ink
dedicatory inscription. May all those who have seen, heard or touched this, all those with
Himalayan Art Resources item no.100612 the teacher Lord Manjushri [Tsongkapa] not separate, following the
Image: 26 x 17 5/8in (66 x 45 cm) victorious ones, may they seek great benefit for the sake of all beings
With silks: 53 x 29in (135 x 74 cm) and the Dharma.”
US$10,000 - 15,000 The patron might be the Third Purchok, Jampa Tsultrim Gyatso
(1825-1901), whose life dates are in line with a stylistic dating of the
The founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, Je painting, and who would have had the means to commission such
Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), appears at the center of the composition a set. Based near Lhasa, the Third Purchok tutored the Twelfth and
surrounded by vignettes from his life story with identifying Thirteenth Dalai Lamas. For more information on his life, see http://
inscriptions. treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Jampa-Gyatso/3274.
An elegantly written inscription on the reverse identifies the patron Tsultrim Jampa’s hand prints are also pressed into the reverse of the
and his wishes for the painting, translated with the assistance of painting’s cloth, deepening its religious significance and the altruistic
Himalayan Art Resources: sentiments conveyed in the inscription. As Selig-Brown explains,
“Confirmation of direct contact would also mean that, from a religious
“To the bodhisattva Manjushri I bow! perspective, each painting is a relic of the lama who touched it and
imbued it with his presence. As such it explains why these paintings
Embodiment of the omniscience of the enlightened conquerors, are exceptionally sacred items for devotees.” Selig-Brown, Eternal
gathered as one - the second Buddha Lord Manjushri [Tsongkapa], Presence, New York, 2004, p.21.
to the body, speech, mind, qualities and activities I bow with
confidence and devotion. Published
Pia and Louis Van der Wee, A Tale of Thangkas: Living with a
Oh Lord, in this realm [painting] all the activities of the virtuous ones, Collection, Antwerp, 1995, pp.41-43, fig.12
are finely composed with the life story, painted here in order for
recollection, created as a worship object for Tsultrim Jampa. Exhibited
De Taal van de Thangka, Ethnographic Museum, Antwerp, 1995
May all the merit accumulated through creating this, be not only for
oneself, but also become a cause of temporary and permanent result Provenance
[for others]. The Van Der Wee Collection, Belgium, acquired by 9 July 1965
12 | BONHAMS
