Page 149 - Fine Asian Works of Art December 19, 2016, SF

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A THANGKA OF AN ARHAT A THANGKA OF MAHAKALA
Tibet, 18th/19th century Tibet, 18th century
In a blue and green landscape setting of clouds and water, the The furious dharmapala displaying the typical iconography of the
larger main figure surrounded by two smaller monks and sheltered six-armed and blue Gom-po nag-po incarnation, treading upon an
by a blossoming tree branch while proffering what appears to be a elephant-headed Vinayaka and holding a karttrka, mala of skulls,
miniature monastery or temple complex, the top edge displaying the trisula, kapala, pasa, and damaru, surrounded by a flaming mandorla
figures of Vajrabhairava with consort and a yellow hatted lama riding and smaller protector deities.
an elephant, opposing a depiction of Mahakala in a lower corner. 27in (68.5cm) height of image
26 1/2 x 16in (67.2 x 40.6cm) image only
US$3,000 - 5,000
US$2,000 - 3,000

One possible identification for the main figure in this lot could be the
Arhat Vajriputra-- a former prince who gave up his lands as part of his
journey to enlightenment. A thangka from a set of Eighteen Arhats and
Four Heavenly Kings dated to 1757 in the Palace Museum collection
features iconography perhaps similar to this lot: a similarly young Arhat
also surrounded by spring blossoms and waited on by attendants
also projecting a miniature architectural complex. See Wang Jiapeng
et al, Zangchuan Fojiao Tangka: Gugong Bowuyuan Wenwu Zhenpin
Quanji [Tangka-Buddhist Painting of Tibet: The Complete Collection
of Treasures of the Palace Museum] (Hong Kong: Commercial Press,
2006) 189, pl 175.

For similar examples of ca 1800 Sino-Tibetan Arhat Thangkas also
similarly composed of blue and green landscapes surrounding large
main figures asymmetrically surrounded by smaller ancillary figures,
see lots 52 and 53 of our New York 14 March 2016 sale 23200 of
Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art (the former also depicting
Vajriputra).

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