A painting of Padmasambhava in his palace

TIBET, 18TH CENTURY

Details

A painting of Padmasambhava in his palace
Tibet, 18th century
The teacher seated in dhyanasana on a lotus base with his right hand holding a vajra and his left holding a skull cup with a khatvanga resting in the crook of his arm, clad in heavy robes, the face with steady gaze surmounted by a pointed red cap, flanked by his two wives and with his eight manifestations in front, the palace surrounded by numerous guardian and protective deities, a rainbow and clouds with further deities above
25¼ x 17 in. (64.1 x 43.2 cm.)

Provenance

Collection of Don José Cangas, Madrid, acquired from Christie's New York, 16 September 2008, lot 558

Literature

Himalayan Art Resources (himalayanart.org), item no. 30642

Lot Essay

Above the central figure is the four-armed white figure of Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara with Amitabha Buddha in the top floor of the palace. At the base of the rainbow, on either side of the trees, is the blue-skinned Chaturbhuja Mahakala at left and the goddess Tashi Tseringma riding a snow lion at right. The entire scene takes place in the pureland of Padmasambhava.

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