A thangka of Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara

TIBET, 13TH CENTURY

Details

A thangka of Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara
Tibet, 13th century
With white skin and four arms seated over a multicolored lotus throne supported by a stout stalk, flanked by Manibhadra at left and Shadakshari at right, all backed by a blue torana with the Five Symbolic Buddhas arrayed in the stylized rock cliffs above, with Manjusrhi and Vajrapani at top and two male monastic figures below
Opaque pigments and gold on textile
12 3/8 x 10¾ in. (31.4 x 27.3 cm.)

Provenance

Onno Janssens Collection, Netherlands, acquired in Amsterdam, 23 December 2008

Lot Essay

Manibhadra, the yellow figure at left and Shadakshari, the white figure at right, are sometimes considered the son and daughter of Avalokiteshvara and are described in the Karandavyuha sutra. The Five Symbolic Buddhas include blue Akshobhya, yellow Ratnasambhava, red Amitabha (center), white Vairochana, and green Amoghasiddha. The two male figures at bottom are possibly the donor and teacher.

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