52 - A Thangka depicting Guru Drag-po

A Thangka depicting Guru Drag-po Neapl or Dolpo, 19th century 66 x 47 cm (112 x 61 cm) Tempera on cotton canvas. The painting depicts the wrathful emanation of Guru Padmasambhava as Guru Drag po in loving union with his wisdom consort. His body colour is red, as he belongs to the Padma family of Buddha Amitabha. Amitabha appears in his Dharmakaya form at the apex of the painting, whilst Padmasambhava, who belongs to the same family, appears in his Nirmanakaya form. Here, Padmasambhava has a wrathful appearance and wears a crown adorned with five dried human skulls. In his outstretched right hand he holds a golden vara, and in his left an iron phurbu, as well as a nine-headed scorpion. In the upper section appear the mythical bird Garuda and, to the left and right, lamas and scholars from Padmasambhava’s school, the Nyingma-pa. Four emanations of Guru Drag-po, in the mandala colours, can be seen on the left and right. In addition, four Dakinis are depicted, also in the mandala colours. Finally, three protectors riding horses can be seen on the thangka. South German private collection, acquired at on 7 May 2016 at Nagel, 736A, lot 172 (copy of invoice available) Former property from an old and important German private collection of Tibetan art, assembled between 1965 and 1995 in Germany, mainly bought from Schoettle East Asian Art in Stuttgart - Wear, minor age damage