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Lot Essay
Possibly one of the largest early portraits of the great Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682), outside Tibet, the sculpture exhibits superb craftsmanship. The finely cast details on the face, including the ear piercing, pointed mustache, and receding hairline, are significant indicators that this sculpture was either made during his lifetime or shortly after. The scale of the present work demanded the use of two distinct techniques in its creation – the arms and head were cast using the lost wax method, while the body and base are created through repoussé, the technique of hammering of thin metal sheets to shape three-dimensional form.
In the present work, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso’s right hand is raised in the vitarka mudra, the gesture of teaching, and the left hand rests on his robes in the meditative posture. Compare the facial expression, the rotund figure and bulbous eyes with a sculpture of the Fifth Dalai Lama made during his lifetime in the collection of the Rubin Museum (acc. no. C2004.26.1) and illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item number. 65375. Also compare the present work with a related figure of the Fifth Dalai Lama illustrated in the Quintessence of Returning Tibetan Cultural Relics From Oversea, Beijing, 2012; illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item number. 32005.
Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso is often referred to by Tibetans as 'the Great Fifth' due to his exceptional abilities, both as a diplomat and politician. Notably, he was the first Dalai Lama to wield both spiritual and political power, a feat achieved through the support of the Mongol leader Gushri Khan, leading to the unification of Central Tibet. He is famous for initiating the construction of two cultural monuments of Tibet: the Potala Palace, which served as his main residence and monastery, and the Lukhang, a private meditation temple set within an artificial lake, adorned with intricate murals of tantric practices. Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso is also recognized for his strategic move to dismantle the military dominance of the aristocracy by mandating their residence in Lhasa and allocating significant political roles to them. This action effectively centralized authority in the capital under his direct control, laying the groundwork for the dynastic rule that persisted in Tibet until 1959.
The Fifth Dalai Lama studied with many of the leading teachers of his time, and his extensive record of received teachings fills four volumes. In these, he enumerates the sutra and tantra instructions, along with the empowerments and transmissions he received, primarily from Geluk, Sakya, and Nyingma masters. A notable example of his religious and artistic contribution is the 'Gold Manuscript', housed in the Musée Guimet, which documents his tantric visions. For further discussion, see Samten Karmay’s Secret Visions of the Fifth Dalai Lama, London, 1988. His accomplishments were widely recognized, and he continues to be revered as a significant lineage holder by the Nyingma tradition.
In the present work, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso’s right hand is raised in the vitarka mudra, the gesture of teaching, and the left hand rests on his robes in the meditative posture. Compare the facial expression, the rotund figure and bulbous eyes with a sculpture of the Fifth Dalai Lama made during his lifetime in the collection of the Rubin Museum (acc. no. C2004.26.1) and illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item number. 65375. Also compare the present work with a related figure of the Fifth Dalai Lama illustrated in the Quintessence of Returning Tibetan Cultural Relics From Oversea, Beijing, 2012; illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item number. 32005.
Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso is often referred to by Tibetans as 'the Great Fifth' due to his exceptional abilities, both as a diplomat and politician. Notably, he was the first Dalai Lama to wield both spiritual and political power, a feat achieved through the support of the Mongol leader Gushri Khan, leading to the unification of Central Tibet. He is famous for initiating the construction of two cultural monuments of Tibet: the Potala Palace, which served as his main residence and monastery, and the Lukhang, a private meditation temple set within an artificial lake, adorned with intricate murals of tantric practices. Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso is also recognized for his strategic move to dismantle the military dominance of the aristocracy by mandating their residence in Lhasa and allocating significant political roles to them. This action effectively centralized authority in the capital under his direct control, laying the groundwork for the dynastic rule that persisted in Tibet until 1959.
The Fifth Dalai Lama studied with many of the leading teachers of his time, and his extensive record of received teachings fills four volumes. In these, he enumerates the sutra and tantra instructions, along with the empowerments and transmissions he received, primarily from Geluk, Sakya, and Nyingma masters. A notable example of his religious and artistic contribution is the 'Gold Manuscript', housed in the Musée Guimet, which documents his tantric visions. For further discussion, see Samten Karmay’s Secret Visions of the Fifth Dalai Lama, London, 1988. His accomplishments were widely recognized, and he continues to be revered as a significant lineage holder by the Nyingma tradition.