Page 11 - Bonhams NYC Portraits of the Masters Bronzes march 2017

3202 Rahula, one of Buddha’s first disciples, was also the son of
A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF RAHULA Shakyamuni. Before Prince Siddhartha abandoned his royal heritage
TIBET, 16TH CENTURY in search for enlightenment, his wife Yasodhara was already pregnant
Inscription translated, ‘Homage to Rahula’. with Rahula. At the age of six Rahula met his father for the first time
Himalayan Art Resources item no.2246 and followed him thereafter, soon achieving arhat consciousness.
5 1/2 in. (13.9 cm) high
This precise and delicate bronze depicts Rahula seated upright above
US$15,000 - 20,000 a wide-petaled lotus base. His patchwork robe is finely incised with
alternate floral and ruyi-cloud patterns. Determined to introduce the
西藏 十六世紀 銅鎏金羅怙羅像 Dharma to all sentient beings, Rahula converted the children of the
gods of Trayastrimsa heaven, and was subsequently rewarded their
crowns. Held in his lap, the crown is the arhat’s chief attribute, with
the power of vanquishing one’s inner passions.

Published
Portraits of the Masters, pp.86-7, no.6.

Published & Exhibited
Monasterios y Lamas del Tibet, p.148, no.94.

PORTRAITS OF THE MASTERS: 108 BRONZE SCULPTURES OF THE TIBETAN BUDDHIST LINEAGES | 9