Page 39 - 2021 March 16th Indian, Himalayan and Tibetan Art, Bonhams NYC New York

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A GROUP OF THREE THANGKAS OF YAMA DHAMARAJA, Depicting three deities central to the Gelug order of Tibetan Buddhism,
VAJRABHAIRAVA, AND SHADBHUJA MAHAKLA these superbly drafted thangkas from the same set are full of vivid,
TIBET, 19TH CENTURY often humorous details: the buffalo underneath Yama Dhamaraja
Distemper on cloth. appears to be very concerned about Chamunda’s sharp toenails,
Himalayan Art Resources item nos.16921 & 16922 & 16923 the human figure under Vajrabhairava’s right foot is caught in a rather
27 1/2 x 18 in. (69.7 x 45.6 cm) each approx. precarious position with his rear-end exposed, and the Ganapati
crushed by Shadbhuja Mahakala seems perfectly content with his
$30,000 - 50,000 beloved radish.

西藏 十九世紀 閻魔護法、大威德金剛及六臂大黑天唐卡 Each composition is well conceived, layered with animals, lamas,
and deities in dramatic poses. The black clouds of smoke creating
outlines around the central figures of Vajrabhairava and Shadbhuja
Mahakala, as well as some of their entourage, exemplify the polished
visual devices that occur when a style reaches maturity, indicating the
thangkas were produced in the 19th century. Compare the energetic
composition with a closely related thangka of Chaturbhuja Mahakala
sold at Bonhams, Hong Kong, 3 October 2017, lot 28. Also see a
thangka of Vajrabhairava and another of Shadbhuja Mahakala in the
Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts (HAR 50042 & 50010).

Provenance
Ex-New Jersey Collection, c.2008

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