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Tranquil Deities of the Bar-do
Tibetan
18th century
Object Place: Tibet
Medium/Technique
Distemper and gold on cotton, mounted with silk brocades, a silk dust cover, wood dowels, brass knobs, and leather corner tabs
Dimensions
120 x 66 cm (47 1/4 x 26 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of George and Verena Rybicki, in memory of William Stanley and Janet Morgan
Accession Number1992.234
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsPaintings
DescriptionPainting in hanging scroll (thangka) format, with streamers, veil and decorative stitched borders.
At the center is Vajrasattva with his consort. Above at the center is Samantabhadra with his consort (a deity of the Nyingma lineage). In fouir circles (with the central image, these represent the five Buddha families) are Buddhas with Dakini entourage: the Ratna family at upper left, the Padma family at upper right, the Vajra family at lower left, and the Karma family at lower right. The six standing Buddhas of the six realms of existence surround these circles (they teach the dharma to each of the six realms: hell, hungry ghost, human, god, jealous god, and animal). Also around the central deities in the four corners are four fierce Herukas with consorts. All is set against a background of hills, clouds, foliage, sun and moon. For additional information about this subject, see "Wisdom and compassion" catalogue, p. 198, no. 60; and Antoinette Gordon, "Iconography of Tibetan Lamaism," p. 97-101.
At the center is Vajrasattva with his consort. Above at the center is Samantabhadra with his consort (a deity of the Nyingma lineage). In fouir circles (with the central image, these represent the five Buddha families) are Buddhas with Dakini entourage: the Ratna family at upper left, the Padma family at upper right, the Vajra family at lower left, and the Karma family at lower right. The six standing Buddhas of the six realms of existence surround these circles (they teach the dharma to each of the six realms: hell, hungry ghost, human, god, jealous god, and animal). Also around the central deities in the four corners are four fierce Herukas with consorts. All is set against a background of hills, clouds, foliage, sun and moon. For additional information about this subject, see "Wisdom and compassion" catalogue, p. 198, no. 60; and Antoinette Gordon, "Iconography of Tibetan Lamaism," p. 97-101.
Provenance1992, George and Verena Rybicki, Lexington, MA; 1992, gift of Rybicki to the MFA in memory of William Stanley and Janet Morgan. (Accession Date: May 26, 1992)