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Requires Photography

Patriarch of the Sakya Sect

Tibetan
17th century
Object Place: Tibet

Medium/Technique Distemper on cotton
Dimensions 104 x 80.5 cm (40 15/16 x 31 11/16 in.)
Credit Line Gift of John Goelet
Accession Number67.852
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsPaintings

DescriptionPainting in hanging scroll (thangka) format, but without original decorative borders.

A large seated patriarch sits on a throne with his hands in a gesture of teaching. He is surrounded by other monks of the sect (wearing red hats), with the protective deity Mahakala below at the center, flanked by Brahmanarupa and Penden Lhamo. A small donor figure sits at the lower right. Deities above include two sets of protective gods (one of them is Chakrasamvara) in yab-yum, a Buddha, a Bodhisattva, and a Mahasiddha. The painting has a painted border of a red and gold cloud pattern.
InscriptionsOn obverse, to the lower right of the central figure, a small Tibetan inscription in gold (to be read.
On reverse, in black ink, in Tibetan, "Oh, Ah, Hum" three times behind the central figure. Also, in black ink, in Tibetan cursive, a longer inscription (to be read).
ProvenanceBy 1967, John Goelet, New York, NY; 1967, gift of Goelet to the MFA. (Accession Date: September 13, 1967)