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Lot Essay
The style and exceptional quality of this painting closely relate to the work of the great Situ Panchen Chokyi Jungne (1699-1774), and if not by the hand of the master himself then this thangka was certainly produced by a member of his atelier.
For close stylistic comparisons with paintings also associated with Situ Panchen, see J. Huntington and D. Bangdel, The Circle of Bliss, 2003, pp. 444-45, cat. no. 137; a depiction of Sita Chakrasamvara, pp. 300-301, cat. no. 84; and a Chakrasamvara sold at Christie's New York, 23 March 1999, lot 172. Compare also with a painting of Hayagriva in D. Jackson, A History of Tibetan Painting, 1996, p. 274, cat. no. 55. All works share an exquisitely detailed treatment of the central figures set against an open green landscape of softly shaded green hills and mountains interspersed with very mannered depictions of flowers and trees.
The deities surrounding Vajrasattva are identified in gold Tibetan script as follows: (top right) Padma karwang, (top left) Heruka Vajradaka, (bottom left) Dorje Nyima, (bottom middle) Tagpa Sangyay khadro, (bottom right) Pal Tachog. All are secondary figures of Vajrasattva and relate to the Tathagatas of the four directions.
For close stylistic comparisons with paintings also associated with Situ Panchen, see J. Huntington and D. Bangdel, The Circle of Bliss, 2003, pp. 444-45, cat. no. 137; a depiction of Sita Chakrasamvara, pp. 300-301, cat. no. 84; and a Chakrasamvara sold at Christie's New York, 23 March 1999, lot 172. Compare also with a painting of Hayagriva in D. Jackson, A History of Tibetan Painting, 1996, p. 274, cat. no. 55. All works share an exquisitely detailed treatment of the central figures set against an open green landscape of softly shaded green hills and mountains interspersed with very mannered depictions of flowers and trees.
The deities surrounding Vajrasattva are identified in gold Tibetan script as follows: (top right) Padma karwang, (top left) Heruka Vajradaka, (bottom left) Dorje Nyima, (bottom middle) Tagpa Sangyay khadro, (bottom right) Pal Tachog. All are secondary figures of Vajrasattva and relate to the Tathagatas of the four directions.