Page 46 - 2020 December 2 Bonhams Arts of Devotion bronzes and Stone carvings

1021
A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF JANGCHUP GYALTSEN
TIBET, 16TH CENTURY
The front of the base inscribed with the Buddhist creed “y’e-dha-rma-he-du-pra...”;
An inscription at the back of the base identifies the figure, translates, “Salutation to
the Lord of Dharma, the benevolent Jangchub Gyaltsen.”
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61763
25.5 cm (10 in.) high

HKD3,000,000 - 3,500,000
西藏 十六世紀 銅鎏金絳曲堅贊像

Depicting one of the most important figures in Tibetan history, this charismatic
sculpture of Jangchub Gyaltsen (1302-1364) undoubtedly represents an important
commission from a master craftsman. The lama’s face is vividly rendered with
naturalistic contours, prominent cheekbones, and sunken cheeks around the
mouth. The horizontal wrinkles on his forehead and meticulously delineated three-
pronged beard afford him an elderly appearance. The artist or the patron probably
intentionally chose to portray him at an old age to celebrate a lifetime of political
and religious achievements.

A spiritual leader with great ambition, Jangchub Gyaltsen founded the Pakmodrupa
dynasty and directed military operations against the Mongol-backed Sakya regime
in the early 1350s. He defeated the Sakya who caved under internal strife. In 1357,
Jangchub Gyaltsen was given the secular title “Tai Situ” (Great Tutor) by the Mongol
ruler, marking the official recognition of the Pakmodrupa administration’s control
over all 13 districts of Central and Western Tibet until circa 1435. As Mongol and
Chinese rulers had little time for Tibetan affairs due to their own local political
instability, Jangchub Gyaltsen and his successors governed Tibet independently for
over eighty years, a golden age known for its religious and cultural developments.

As a prominent patron of art and religious texts, Jangchub Gyaltsen is known for
commissioning large sets of thangkas and copies of the Buddhist scriptural canon
(kangyur). For example, he is portrayed as the donor at the bottom corners of a set
of 42 mandalas commemorating Lama Dampa Sonam Gyaltsen (1312-75); for one
example from the set, see Himalayan Art Resources item no.77204.

Published
Rossi & Rossi, Homage to the Holy: Portraits of Tibet’s Spiritual Teachers, London,
2003, pl.31.

Provenance
Private European Collection

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