EASTERN TIBET, 19TH CENTURY

This finely painted thangka depicts Shakyamuni Buddha seated on the side of Vulture Peak Mountain disseminating teachings on the Lotus Sutra. In his right hand he holds a single lotus blossom, while his left rests palm upwards in his lap. He is surrounded by various buddhas, arhats and monks set amidst a lush mountainous landscape. Located in Bihar, India, Vulture Peak was one of Buddha’s principle retreat sites, as well as the location for numerous teachings, the Lotus Sutra being one of the most significant. The present work can be compared with another thangka of this seminal Buddhist scene in the Rubin Museum of Art (acc.no. P1994.13.3). Both works overflow with detail and movement. The contrasting colors, particularly the greens, oranges and reds of the present work, heighten the lush scenery, adding further dimensionality to the layered composition.