A group of three gold ground thangkas of arhats
Ink, mineral pigment and gold in cloth, Tibet 19th century
In the first thangka with Rahula in the center, holding a golden crown. Above and to the left is the Buddha of Long-life, Amitayus. At the lower left is Chudapantaka with his hands in his lap. At the right is Pindola Bharadvaja holding a book in his right hand and a begging bowl in his left.
The second thangka has Ajita with a covered head in the meditation position at the top, Kalika at the bottom left with a pair of gold earrings and Vanavasin with his right hand in the pointing gesture and the left hand holding a flywhisk.
The third thangka with Hvashang at the top shown as a portly figure surrounding by playing children, below are the directional guardians on the left Virudhaka holding a sword in the right hand and scabbard in the left, and on the right Dhritarashtra playing a lute.
each folio: 22 ¾ x 17 ¾ in. (57.3 x 45.1 cm)
In the first thangka with Rahula in the center, holding a golden crown. Above and to the left is the Buddha of Long-life, Amitayus. At the lower left is Chudapantaka with his hands in his lap. At the right is Pindola Bharadvaja holding a book in his right hand and a begging bowl in his left.
The second thangka has Ajita with a covered head in the meditation position at the top, Kalika at the bottom left with a pair of gold earrings and Vanavasin with his right hand in the pointing gesture and the left hand holding a flywhisk.
The third thangka with Hvashang at the top shown as a portly figure surrounding by playing children, below are the directional guardians on the left Virudhaka holding a sword in the right hand and scabbard in the left, and on the right Dhritarashtra playing a lute.
each folio: 22 ¾ x 17 ¾ in. (57.3 x 45.1 cm)
Sold for
US$ 11,250
inc. premium
Footnotes
- The format of this group of thangkas is almost identical to one in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, see www.himalayanart.org (69405). Both sets are suggested to have been inspired by a set of seven block prints depicting Shakyamuni Buddha and the Sixteen Arhats in the collection of Tibet House, New Delhi. It is suggested that these paintings are based on the famous Narthang Monastery set of prints from the 18th century.
In all three paintings the artist has worked the finer details of the textile designs and motifs in a matte gold line that can only be seen under raking light. Such lavish use of gold and refined detail of the paintings suggest this set comes from an important commission.
Provenance:
Private Collection, Florida
Acquired in Germany in the 1950s
Category: Asian Art / Southeast Asian, Indian and Himalayan Art
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