Lot 50

The Fournier collection includes over ten superbly executed black background (nag thang) paintings. Although some show a more dark-blue to black or even dark-brownish background. These specific thangkas became en vogue in the seventeenth century while most were created during the eighteenth century, like the presented group. The earlier examples were often just of a linear design in gold that gradually developed into a more pictorial version. Colours were added to enrich for instance facial details of the deities, attributes, their garments, flaming halos and petals of lotuses on which they were standing.The nag thang group was just used for wrathful deities. These highly esoteric paintings were placed in the dark and secluded mgon khang room of each temple devoted to the protectors of Buddhism. Most portray a large deity in the centre surrounded by smaller emanations, other protectors belonging to the same retinue and at the upper register often historical figures linked to the specific order to which the principle deity belongs. The Fournier examples are of an extremely fine quality, show an enormous strength in their execution and possess a great evocative power.

THANGKA REPRESENTANT GURU DRAGMAR

TIBET, XVIIIEME SIECLE

Details

THANGKA REPRESENTANT GURU DRAGMAR
TIBET, XVIIIEME SIECLE
Il est représenté sous forme d'une manifestation de Padmasambhava, la section inférieure de son corps en forme de makara. Ses mains tiennent le vajra et le scorpion. Il est entouré par des divinités protectrices. Il est surmonté de Samantabhadra.
Dimensions: 57 x 41 cm. (22 ½ x 16 1/8 in.), encadré

Provenance

The Private Collection of Lionel and Danielle Fournier of Himalayan Art, collected in Europe during the 1970s-1980s.

Literature

N. Bazin (ed.), Rituels tibétains: Visions secrètes du Ve Dalai Lama, Editions de la Réunion des musées nationaux, Paris 2002, plate 49.

Exhibited

Rituels tibétains: Visions secrètes du Ve Dalai Lama, Musées national des Arts asiatiques-Guimet, 5 November 2002 – 24 February 2003.

Further details

A FRAMED THANGKA DEPICTING GURU DRAGMAR
TIBET, 18TH CENTURY

Lot Essay

The finely drawn principle figure in gold presents Guru Dragmar, one of the eight manifestations of Padmasambhava. He can be recognized by the lower section of his body that is formed of a Makara with a pair of light-blue, mesmerizing eyes. Guru Dragmar holds the vajra and scorpion in his hands. Above him is placed Samantabhadra, with to each side various mahasiddhas, monks and other historical persons belonging to various Tibetan Buddhist orders. He is surrounded by the horse-headed Hayagriva, Vajrapani brandishing the vajra, Ekajati showing one large eye, Khyung bird and a form of Shri Devi riding her mule. All figures are finely drawn in gold with a sparse use of colour.

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