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Buddha Shakyamuni


釋迦牟尼圖軸 (佚名)
Tibetan or Chinese
18th century
Object Place: Tibeto-Chinese

Medium/Technique Distemper and gold on cotton, mounted with silk brocade
Dimensions 138.43 x 113.03 cm (54 1/2 x 44 1/2 in.)
Credit Line Gift of John Goelet
Accession Number67.830
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsPaintings

DescriptionPainting in hanging scroll (thangka) format, with veil and decorative stitched borders but no streamers or rod.

Very large tangka depicting Shakyamuni Buddha in meditation posture, with hands in teaching mudra. The palms of his hands and feet are painted red, with golden chakras. He is surrounded by Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and lamas seated on lotuses and surrounded by red aureoles, each surrounded by foliate vines, and below by Mahakalas, nagarajas, a deity, and a monk. Above the Buddha's head is a silk canopy with dangling pendants and tassles. Above also are a sun and half moon as well as offering deities on clouds. To the Buddha's immediate right and left are standing Bodhisattvas. The Buddha is surrounded by a blue aureole with golden rays. A green aureole surrounds his head. Below, on rock formations, are offerings of coral, tusks, jewelry, and a lake with swimming ducks, fish, etc.
InscriptionsOn reverse, in Tibetan, in red ink: "Om, ah, hum" behind the three centers of the Buddha.
ProvenanceBy 1967, John Goelet, New York, NY; 1967 gift of Goelet to the MFA. (Accession Date: September 13, 1967)