Lot 114

114

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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE ENGLISH COLLECTION, SOLD BY ORDER OF THE EXECUTORS (LOTS 114-122)

A THANGKA DEPICTING TSONGKHAPA

16TH CENTURY

Details

A THANGKA DEPICTING TSONGKHAPA
16TH CENTURY
Tsongkhapa is depicted in the centre seated in dhyanasana on a lotus throne with a rectangular base, both hands held before him in dharmachakra mudra and each holding a lotus stem, one supporting a sword and the other a book. The deity wears a yellow pandita hat and the heavy, red and brown patchwork robes of a monk, detailed in gilt at the hems with flowers. Tsongkhapa is flanked by four lamas and various multi-armed deities and is further surrounded by a border of seated lamas centred with a Buddha, and wrathful deities.
The panel, 32 ¼ in. x 22 ¼ in. (82 cm. x 56.5 cm.)

Provenance

Sotheby's London, 22 November 1987, lot 167.
Property from a Private English Collection, predominantly assembled in the 1970s and 1980s.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Kate Hunt Director, Head of Department

khunt@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7752 3389

Lot Essay

Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 24640.
Tsongkapa, Lobsang Drapa (1357-1419), was the founder of the Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1409 he established the Ganden Monastery in Lhasa which became the principal seat of the school. The reverse of the thangka bears an image of a stupa and large, repeated inscriptions of the consecration mantra om ah hum, imbuing the body, speech and mind of the Buddha. The letters at the top of the stupa are abraded but appear to praise Tsongkhapa.

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