TIBET, CIRCA XIIIEME SIECLE

The cult of the five Cosmic Buddhas must have been rather popular during the 12th to 14th century, as many painted examples have survived to our days. The richly adorned Ratnasambhava is described in iconographic treatises as having a yellow colour, the hand gesture in varadamudra, placed in the south and the horse as vehicle. He is placed on a lotus pericarp that on its turn is set on a throne with back slab. The base of the throne sees two female and one male figure alternating with two horses, his vehicle. Ratnasambhava's dhoti is decorated with his emblem the ratna and some small divinities, each meticulous executed. The elaborate throne seems to be a late 13th century development, as they do not appear on earlier Tathagata paintings where they are just placed on lotuses. Both side sections are constituted of just a roaring leonine beast or vyala standing on an elephant. In the 14th century the back slab is elaborated with some more animals. A pair of bodhisattvas wearing double skirts is flanking the main figure and hold different attributes. Surrounding are various bodhisattvas, rows of minute Buddha's and a Central Asian clothed Lokapala. Both paintings are most probably executed towards the end of the 13th century.