A FINE THANGKA OF BUDDHA MAITREYA WITH SILK MOUNTING

Description:

Tibet, 18th c.
60,5 x 39 cm (115 x 70 cm mit Montierung)
The centre is showing the Buddha of the Future, Maitreya, seated in vajrasana on a lotus-base, his right hand raised in abhayamudra while the left is resting on his lap supporting the kundika, wearing monastic garment including a patchwork mantle, his face displaying a serene expression, the curled hairdo ornamented with a stupa, placed against a double mandorla, the upper register with the white Ushnishavijaya in the centre flanked to both sides by various Saskyapa lamas and Sitatara, below this group are placed five arhats namely Nagasena with the mendicant staff, Abheda holding the stupa, Hva Shang with the rosary, Gopaka supporting a manuscript and Dharmatala accompanied by a tiger, the lower part with the four lokapalas including Viridhaka with sword, Dhritarashtra with lute, Virupaksha supporting the stupa and Vaishravana with the mongoose and all placed in a mountainous landscape, in brocade mounting.
Important German private collection, assembled in the 1970s and 80s, some bought from Schoettle East Asian Art, Stuttgart
Published: Thangka Calendar 1997, Wind Horse Publishing House, Month July
Minor wear and minor traces of age