Lot 223
223
A painting of Nagarjuna
Christie’s and the consignors of lots 208-255 intend to donate a portion of their proceeds received from the sale of the lot to Himalayan Art Resources, a 501(c)(3) not-for profit charity. Please note that a buyers who purchase these lots will not be eligible for any charitable contribution deduction in relation to such purchase.
A painting of Nagarjuna

Tibet, 18th century

Details
A painting of Nagarjuna
Tibet, 18th century
The snake-deity seated with hands in dharmachakramudra at center over a lotus base, a table of offerings before him, surrounded by 231 manifestations of Mahakala
34 ¾ x 22 ½ in. (88.5 x 58 cm.)
Provenance
Collection of Tom Grayson, California, 1999-2011
Acquired from the above in 2011
Literature
Himalayan Art Resources (himalayanart.org), item no.24075
Sale room notice
Christie’s and the consignors of lots 208-255 intend to donate a portion of their proceeds received from the sale of the lot to Himalayan Art Resources, a 501(c)(3) not-for profit charity. Please note that a buyers who purchase these lots will not be eligible for any charitable contribution deduction in relation to such purchase.

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Lot Essay

Nagarjuna, one the most important Buddhist philosophers, is considered to be the founder of the Madhyamaka school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. He is often depicted surrounded by snakes, a reference to the story in which the nagas, nature spirits in snake form, offer the One Hundred Thousand Verse Prajnaparamita Sutra, a teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha that had until that moment, never been revealed to the human world. For a comparable work, see a painting of Nagarjuna in the Rubin Museum of Art (P2000.14.3).

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