A THANGKA DEPICTING BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI WITH ARHATS Tibet, 16th Century

A THANGKA DEPICTING BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI WITH ARHATS Tibet, 16th Century

in four rectangular sections with a golden Buddha in the upper left panel, his hands in dharmachakra mudra, and wearing a floral patterned red patchwork robe, seated in vajraparyankasana on a lotus flower emerging from the churning ocean filled with naga, makara and mythological sea creatures, with adepts, deities and auspicious emblems surrounding the ocean, monks in the clouds to the left and the Tushita heaven in clouds to the right, chatra above flanked by apsaras and adorants; an adjacent panel to the right with an arhat, possibly Ajita with head covered with cloth from his voluminous patchwork robe, seated in meditation on a throne set in mountainous landscape and flanked by attendant monks, another arhat below, possibly Kalika seated on cushions with a red and blue pitaka basket to his left and surrounded by a Lokapala, attendants and mythical animals; a further panel below right with an Arhat, possibly Cudapapanthaka, offering a cloth to the Buddha seated on a peacock feather cushion, his sandals on a rocky outcrop before him, with an arhat seated on a throne below, possibly Nagasena holding a jewelled staff; and a further panel to the left with an arhat seated on a throne, possibly Rahula holding a scarf and with a crown supported by an attendant to his side, another arhat seated below, possibly Pindola Bharadvaja being offered a patra by an attendant and surrounded by white elephants

Himalayan Art Resources item no. 19841.
33 1/2 by 25 1/2 in. (85 by 65 cm)

Provenance:
“Himalayas: An Aesthetic Adventure”, The Art Institute of Chicago, 5 April-17 August 2003; Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C., 18 October 2003-11 January 2004.