Page 181 - Bonhams NYC Indian and Himalayan Art March 2019

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A THANGKA OF RED TARA lake, clouds, and sky. At the center of the sky, Katog Tsewang Norbu
EASTERN TIBET, PALPUNG, 18TH CENTURY (1698–1755) appears, a famous Kagyu lama in 18th-century Eastern
Distemper on cloth; verso with Tibetan inscription, translated: By the Tibet. Arising out of the lake near the bottom center, a naga serpent
blessings and strength of the Goddess of Power, the three realms makes offerings to Red Tara.
animate and inanimate, fulfilling the wishes to possess power; may the
four activities spontaneously arise. The style and palette of this painting draw inspiration from Eastern
Himalayan Art Resources item no.8077 Tibet and its proximity to China, borrowing Chinese painting
Image: 16 1/8 x 10 3/4 in. (41 x 27.2 cm); conventions. Palpung Monastery in Eastern Tibet is credited with
With silks: 26 3/4 x 14 1/4 in. (68 x 36.3 cm) popularizing this style, continuing the innovative artistic vision of
Situ Panchen Chokyi Jungne (1700–74). Compare a closely related
$15,000 - 20,000 thangka of Red Tara in the Hahn Cultural Foundation, (HAR 93868),
and further examples in private collections (HAR 1801 & 127), and sold
藏東 八蚌風格 十八世紀 紅度母唐卡 at Bonhams, New York, 16 March 2015, lot 38.

As suggested by this painting’s inscription, Red Tara is invoked for Published
the purposes of increasing power. At the center of this restrained Rossi & Rossi Ltd, Beyond Lhasa: Sculpture and Painting from East
composition, the artist has delicately painted her seated on a lotus and West Tibet, London, 2002, fig.20.
throne and before an aureole of pastel pink and blue. With skillful Jeff Watt, Tibetan Thangkas: Buddhist Paintings from the 17th to the
washes the artist transitions between the landscape’s verdant hills, 19th Century, Rossi & Rossi Ltd, Hong Kong, 2018, pp.46–9.

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