Distemper and gold on cloth. Finely painted, the central figure seated in dhyanasana atop a multicolored lotus throne, holding his hands in dharmachakra mudra, wearing a loose-fitting monastic robe and a pandita cap, his serene face with smiling lips and a prominent chin. He is backed by a minutely detailed, layered mandorla painted with foliate scroll and gold flames with small precious stones, flanked by two stylized lotus stems rising from vases and supporting makaras. The upper register with smaller images of Buddhas and monks.

The reverse with a pair of handprints in red pigment.

Provenance: From an important Hungarian private collection.
Condition: Extensive wear, fading, some soiling, and creasing.

Dimensions: Image Size 62.5 x 47.2 cm, Size incl. frame 78.2 x 68.8 cm

Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1251), a spiritual ancestor of the Panchen Lama, is perhaps the most important master of the Sakyapa school. Following a visit to China, he became viceroy of Tibet in 1249. He is generally known simply as Sakya Pandita (or Sapan for short), a title given to him in recognition of his scholarly achievements and knowledge of Sanskrit. He is held in the tradition to have been an emanation of Manjusri, the embodiment of the wisdom of all the Buddhas.

Expert’s note: The handprints on the reverse serve two overlapping purposes. The first is a form of signature or seal. The tradition of an artist ‘signing’ a thangka was prevalent in Tibet, with the earliest known thangka bearing fingerprints dating to the 9^th century. Handprints on the back of a thangka may also represent blessings from a venerated teacher. Outside their appearance in thangkas, handprints were used to mark significant documents such as treaties and decrees, like the prints of the Fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Losang Gyatso (1617-1682) which appear at the bottom of a proclamation in 1679 entrusting his authority to his regent Sangye Gyatso (1652-1703).

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related thangka with a similar mandorla and gold-painted scrolling foliage, dated ca. 14^th century, in the Walters Art Museum, accession number 35.326.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Paris, 15 December 2022, lot 5
Price: EUR 52,920 or approx. EUR 56,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare thangka depicting Gayadhara and drokmi, Tibet, 16^th century
Expert remark: Compare the related manner of painting with similarly gold-decorated robes. Note this thangka depicts two main figures and dates slightly later than the present lot. Note the size (65 x 54 cm).