COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
Record
AMICA ID:
CMA_.2000.68
AMICA Library Year:
2001
Object Type:
Paintings
Creator Nationality:
Asian; Far East Asian; Tibetan
Creator Name-CRT:
Tibet, Western Himalayas from Tabo Monastery, c. 12th century
Title:
Seated Amitabha with Attendants
Title Type:
Primary
View:
Full View
Creation Date:
c. 1100s
Creation Start Date:
1100
Creation End Date:
1200
Materials and Techniques:
thanka painting on canvas
Creation Place:
Tabo Monastery
Creation Place:
western Himalayas
Dimensions:
Image: 78.2cm x 62.9cm, Overall: 100cm x 66.7cm
AMICA Contributor:
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Owner Location:
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
ID Number:
2000.68
Credit Line:
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund
Context:
This temple banner (thangka) with the seated image of Amitabha in the center flanked by enlighened beings called Bodhisattvas, represents a slightly later version of the same Western Tibetan style as the miniature painting of Preaching Buddha also shown here. This painting is unfinished, however, revealing very fluid and accomplished ink draw-ing underneath. Normally, once the colors were applied, the drawing would not have been visible. Here the artist got as far as applying only three basic colors: white (often used as the ground), red, and black. The painting dates to the 12th century, which makes it one of the earliest Western Tibetan style thangkas known.Like the miniature painting (2000.67), this thangka relates to the museum's two 11th-century sculptures from the Western Himalayas-the bronze Standing Buddha (1966.30, on view in Gallery 116) and the polychromed wooden sculpture of a Seated Buddha (1986.6, not currently on view) The paintings replicate the style found in the two sculptures. Both the Tabo and Tholing Monasteries, where the paintings were recovered, were founded by King Yesheö of Guge in the 11th century.
Related Image Identifier Link:
CMA_.2000.68.tif
