TIBET, 18TH CENTURY

Details

A Black-Ground Thangka of a Karma Kagyu Protector Deity
Tibet, 18th Century
Finely painted, the deity Youthful Bliss with a lion's head riding on horseback dressed in elaborate garments holding a spear and skullcup with ritual food offerings, his consort with a wolf's head holding a trident and human heart riding atop a mule, both surrounded by the red flames of pristine awareness, two monkeys in the foreground standing on their hands holding wrathful torma offerings with their feet, the inner retinue consisting of three deities at the top riding a mule, makara and a horse respectively, with five deities below, each mounted on various beasts, the outer retinue consisting of five Buddhist monks, five black hat sorcerers and five wild women, with four warriors dispersed behind, all in a mountainous background with blue cloudbands
33¼ x 22¾ in. (84.3 x 57.7 cm.)

Provenance

Gérard Labre Collection

Lot Essay

An inscription on the reverse of this painting identifies the central figures as Kunga zhonnu ('Youthful Bliss') Father-Mother, together with their retinue of eight deities, all of whom are special protectors of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. This subject is not known in India and was likely brought into the Karma Kagyu School by the 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi (1204-1283), who came from a Nyingma family background. Karma Pakshi is responsible for bringing many Nyingma deities into the Karma Kagyu School, such as the special form of Mahakala known as Bernagchen. This protector, Youthful Bliss and consort, is most often associated with Bernagchen as a retinue figure and part of his five deity retinue. For two related examples, see G. Béguin, Art ésotérique de l'Himalaya: La donation Lionel Fournier, 1990, pp. 145-147, cat. no. 83 and N. Bazin, Rituels tibétains, 2002, p. 114, cat. no. 56.

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