TIBET, 18TH-19TH CENTURY

This charming painting of the arhat, Bakula, depicted with exaggerated features, sits atop a cushion within a highly stylized landscape. His left hand is held in a gesture of teaching, and his right hand cradles a brown mongoose spewing forth wish-fulfilling jewels from his mouth. In ancient India, the mongoose is a symbol for wealth, signifying that he will bestow the material requisites for anyone seeking to follow the Buddhist path. The figure's loose monastic robes in red, blue and orange are intricately detailed in gold at the hems with floral scrolls and geometric designs. The snow-capped mountains in the background, the abundance of water, and the peony tree are all indicators of an auspicious setting.
In the foreground of the painting, a gentle stream flows through the landscape framed by jetting rocks in blue and green. Three diminutive figures riding on donkeys and horses traverse the stream carefully. One of the riders wears a broad-brimmed hat known as a tsetop, made to be worn by a senior monk official during the warmer summer months when out riding. This detail suggests this painting was commissioned by monk officials, so that they may be protected under the gentle gaze of the arhat. Compare the overall exaggerated anatomy of the figure and highly stylized landscape of the present work with another painting of the Arhat Bakula from the Rubin Museum (acc. no. p.1996.12.2).