
Dora Tan
Head of Sale, Specialist
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Sold for US$19,062.50 inc. premium
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Head of Sale, Specialist

International Director
西藏 十八世紀 中陰文武百尊唐卡
This thangka presents the deities of the intermediate state (bardo) between death and reincarnation, as prescribed in the Tibetan Book of the Dead. The presence of Samantabhadra, nude and blue with consort at the top, and repeated Herukas at the center, leave no doubt about the Nyingma order affiliation of this painting.
According to Tibetan Buddhism, we have an opportunity to attain enlightenment at the moment of our death. However, our psyche will produce visions of these forty-two peaceful and fifty-eight wrathful deities in successive rounds, and if we do not know how to appropriately respond to each—if our karma is not pure and our mind is not trained—we will fail and be reborn again. These paintings help both clergy and laity prepare for death and what lies after so that they may be freed from the bondage of samsara or at least be reborn into one of the better realms of existence. The Rubin Museum of Art, New York has a closely related example (HAR 557).
Provenance:
The Estate of Dr. Joseph W. Foxell Jr., New Jersey
Thence by descent to the current owner