A THANGKA OF DIPANKARA BUDDHA


Central Tibet, mid-18th centuryDistemper on cloth; verso with a Tibetan dedicatory inscription in black ink; mounted with original silks.Himalayan Art Resources item no.61512 Image: 23 1/4 x 15 1/4in (59.4 x 39.1cm)With silks: 44 1/2 x 28 1/2in (113.7 x 73.1cm)
|The painting's reverse contains a beautifully inscribed dedication referencing the Seventh Dalai Lama Lobsang Kelsang Gyatso, suggesting a date of production within or soon after his reign period (1720-57)."May the merit accumulated in the three times from creating this painting enable us to spread Buddha's teachings in general and specifically the teachings of Tsongkapa. May all the Teaching Holders in general and particularly Lobsang Kelsang Gyatso live long, and [their] Dharma activity flourish widely. May all sentient beings experience temporary happiness and also quickly attain the stage of the union of Vajradhara permanently."The 'merit accumulated three times' mentioned in the inscription refers to this painting being one of an initial set of three depicting the Buddhas of the Past, Present, and Future. Here Dipankara, the Buddha of the Past, is surrounded by an assortment of the Sixteen Arhats and two guardian kings. The composition is a fine example of the New Menri style developed by Choying Gyatso in the 17th century. For a thangka of a Panchen Lama in the same style see Rhie & Thurman, Worlds of Transformation, New York, 1999, p.361, no.130. See a complete set of the Buddhas of the Past, Present, and Future rendered in the Palpung style of Eastern Tibet (HAR set no.1754).ProvenanceMoke Mokotoff, New York, 16 September 1995Private Florida Collection