A large painting of Vajradhara, Tibet, 18th century

Acquired by the current owner in the 1970s (by repute).

This Tibetan painting of the primordial Buddha Vajradhara depicts him with his head atilt with a subtle smile, in his standard mudra, holding a drilbu/ghanta and vajra/dorje representing widom and method respectively; the female and male aspects of enlightenment in the Tantric Buddhist traditions. The deep blue sky above him is occupied by Amitayus on the left and Sitatara or White Tara on the right, both symbolizing a wish for long life. The throne back behind his radiating golden body halo represents all of the typical Tibetan features in the Tibetan painting style: a horned Garuda figure atop, two celestial dancers, two makara, two young boys, two snow lions, and two elephants. A table of offerings appears before Vajradhara, who is seated upon a lion throne indicating his shared identity with the historical Buddha of our eon/kalpa Shakyamuni Buddha. The craggy rocks in the lower right and left corners, rendered in a Chinese-court-style of painting, point to the 18th century origin of this Tibetan painting.