Page 111 - Bonhams Asian and Chinese Art London Nov. 2019

260
A THANGKA OF KEDRUB GELEG PAL
ZANGPO
Tibet, circa 1800
Distemper on cloth; inscribed in Tibetan at
the bottom, unmounted. 71.5cm (28 1/4in) x
44cm (7 1/4in)

£3,000 - 5,000
HK$29,000 - 49,000
CNY27,000 - 44,000
The Property of a Lady

Provenance
Ludwik Rajchman (1881-1965), great-
grandfather of the present owner, and by
descent through the family

Kedrub Geleg Pal Zangpo (1385-1438) was
one of Tsongkapa’s most devoted disciples.
Upon his teacher’s death, he returned to
Tsang, where he became an abbot, founded
several monasteries, and ultimately became
the third man to occupy the throne of
Ganden after Tsongkapa and Gyaltsab Je.
It is on his visions that the Five Forms of
Tsongkhapa are based. He is regarded as a
pre-incarnation in the line of Panchen Lamas;
the present thangka is likely to have been
part of a set illustrating the incarnations of
the Panchen Lama.

Here Kedrub, is depicted having his visions.
He is at the same time to the middle left,
shown slumping in sadness over at table at
the thought of the suffering of sentient beings
lost in the ocean of worldly existence, whilst
thinking of his teacher who instantly appears
in the sky above. At the same time he is also
to the middle right, in a devoted kneeling
posture, looking up at the vision of his
master and presenting a symbolic mandala
offering of the universe constructed of
precious substances. At the top right of the
composition is Sahaja Heruka Vajrabhairava,
with Shadbhuja Mahakala, emanation of
Avalokiteshvara, at the bottom left.

For similar thangkas depicting the same
subject, see Himalayan Art Resources item
23391; and Christie’s, Indian, Himalayan and
Southeast Asian Works of Art,
New York, 18 March 2015, lot 4030.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. ASIAN ART - PART I | 109