TIBET, 18TH CENTURY

The present painting depicts the Buddha Shakyamuni at center, surrounded by stories from the Jatakas, the tales of the former lives of the Buddha. The Jataka tales illustrated in the vignettes can be identified as, starting from top center and moving clockwise: a starving tigress, a tale of compassion, seflessness, and generosity; King of the Shibis, a tale of charity; a small portion of gruel, a tale of generosity; the merchant, a tale of diligent resolve; the invicible one, a tale of unwavering virtue; the rabbit, a tale of selfless kindness; Ajastya the ascetic, the virtues of asceticism and solitude; the strength of love, a tale of loving kindness; Vishvantara, a tale of the marvelous behavior of a bodhisattva; the sacrifice, a tale of virtue and generosity; Shakra, a tale of bravery; the brahman, a tale of conscience; she who drives men mad, a tale of self-control; and Suparaga, depending on the virtuous as friends.
The reverse of the painting reveals an elegant diagram of a stupa, bearing an inscription that reads "Homage to the Stupa of Complete Victory!"