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Buddha Shakyamuni
Tibet
19th century
Object Place: Tibet
Medium/Technique
Distemper and gold on cotton with remnants of silk brocade border
Dimensions
94.5 x 65 cm (37 3/16 x 25 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number21.746
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsPaintings
DescriptionPainting with no borders, with remnants of decorative borders, would have originally been in thangka format.
Large central figure of Buddha Shakyamuni sits cross-legged on a lotus throne. His right hand is in bhumisparsa mudra and his left hand is in dhyana mudra, holding his begging bowl. On the bottoms of his feet are dharmachakras. Below the Buddha are the Guardian Kings of the Four Directions with Vaishravana seated on a snow lion at the center. To eitehr side of the throne are arhats. To either side of the Buddha are crowned figures of Dhyanibodhisattvas seated on lotus thrones. Each holds an attribute atop a lotus. Above the Buddha are Manjushri, a Buddha, Vajrasattva, another Buddha, and Vajradhara. The elaborate throne, with snow lion motifs and brocade drapes, is similar in style and format to that seen in other Thangkas from the Bigelow collection, suggesting that they are all from the same atelier.
Large central figure of Buddha Shakyamuni sits cross-legged on a lotus throne. His right hand is in bhumisparsa mudra and his left hand is in dhyana mudra, holding his begging bowl. On the bottoms of his feet are dharmachakras. Below the Buddha are the Guardian Kings of the Four Directions with Vaishravana seated on a snow lion at the center. To eitehr side of the throne are arhats. To either side of the Buddha are crowned figures of Dhyanibodhisattvas seated on lotus thrones. Each holds an attribute atop a lotus. Above the Buddha are Manjushri, a Buddha, Vajrasattva, another Buddha, and Vajradhara. The elaborate throne, with snow lion motifs and brocade drapes, is similar in style and format to that seen in other Thangkas from the Bigelow collection, suggesting that they are all from the same atelier.
Provenance1921, William Sturgis Bigelow, Boston, MA; 1921, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: April 7, 1921)