Thangka, tempera on canvas, Tibet, 19th century - Lot 171

Thangka, tempera on canvas, Tibet, 19th century In the center, the bodhisattva Manjushri is depicted with one face and two hands. The right hand holds aloft the flaming blue sword of wisdom slicing through ignorance. The left, positioned at heart level, holds the stem of an utpala flower bearing the book Prajnaparamita on its petals. Adorned with a golden crown studded with jewels, earrings, necklaces and bracelets, he wears silk clothes, a green scarf and a red skirt. Seated, legs bent in vajra posture, on a flat moon disk and petals born of a lotus pond, he is surrounded by a white and orange halo, encircled by clouds. Three smaller deities share the bottom of the thangka. In the center, another depiction of Manjushri sketching the dharmachakra mudra with his hands, a stem and a utpala flower extending from each side, on the left is the book Prajnaparamita and on the right the sword of wisdom. On the right, a white Tara, her left hand stretched forward in the gesture (mudra) of generosity, while her right holds a stem of utpala to her heart. Adorned with jewels, ornaments and silks of various colors, he is seated in vajra posture above a lotus. On the left, probably a blue Tara, sketching with her right hand an unusual mudra, the buddhi mudra, gesture of mental clarity, while with her right hand she holds an uptala flower. 38 x 42 cm