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There are two controversial paintings in the collection. They are controversial 12
because they both depict a protector deity named Dorje Shugden. This 16
protector has been deemed by the current Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso (b.1935)
to be a mischievous spirit and harm doer. Some Tibetan Buddhists now have
an almost irrational fear of this former protector deity along with his image in
painting or sculpture. He is depicted as whitish in colour with one face and
two hands holding in the right a curved sword with a vajra handle. In the
left hand is a human heart. He is slightly fierce with three staring eyes and
a gaping mouth with the canine teeth exposed. Richly attired in monastic
robes, silk brocades, and a golden yellow riding hat of Chinese origin, he
is completely surrounded by flames. The mount is a mythical Tibetan snow
lion, white with a green-blue mane, fierce in appearance with a snarling face
- gazing up at Dorje Shugden as an expression of respect. The images of
the deity can be found at the bottom right and left corners of the paintings of
Tsongkapa and Shakyamuni Buddha (Lots 22 and 12; HAR 2191, 2200).

There are two photo-realistic images in the collection. The first is a
composition with the central figure of a Tantric yogi (Lot 16; HAR 2216). The
second example is of a secondary figure depicting the teacher Pabongka
Dechen Nyingpo (1878-1941) at the upper middle left side (Lot 12; HAR 2200).

There are many different painting styles represented in the collection ranging
from the areas of Lhasa in Central Tibet all the way to East Tibet, including
both Amdo to the North, and Kham to the South. The quality of the works in
the collection also varies, however, there are a number of shining stars of both
rare style and beauty accompanied by esoteric iconography and puzzling
compositions yet to be fully explored and understood.

A great deal of explanation can be given in explaining each of the different
aspects of the collection starting with the general topics of Art History,
iconography, and religious and regional studies. In the beginning it is
probably enough to know that Himalayan art is a broad field with hundreds
of thousands of extant artistic works. Many collections, institutional and
private, are available for study the world over. What you see is not always the
full picture. Even a small collection can represent hundreds and hundreds of
works in total.

Jeff Watt,
Director & Chief Curator, Himalayan Art Resources
www.himalayanart.org
29 March 2017

THE JONGEN-SCHLEIPER COLLECTION | 17