A THANGKA DEPICTING PALDEN RINCHEN TIBET, 16TH CENTURY |

the Taglung lama wearing layers of gold-patterned red robes and a cap with upturned lappets, right hand raised in abhaya mudra, the left in dhyana mudra, seated in vajraparyankasana on a lion throne, with cushions behind within a halo, set against multi-coloured stylised mountains, and surrounded by Kagyu Taglung lineage including Milarepa and Vajradhara, Tashipel at centre above, Naropa to his left with Marpa and Gampopa to the right, the third black hat Karmapa Rangyung Dorje in the register to the right, Phagmotrupa at the top of the register to the left, above Sangye Nomwa, and blue Buddhakapala in union with his red prajna Vishvasukha Matri, with Vajravidarana to the left below, and Ushnishavijaya, Sitatapatra, Amritakundalin, Pita Jambhala, Krishna Jambhala to the right, the reverse with an inscription in red within a stupa Himalayan Art Resources item no. 18354.

Amy Heller, Tibetan Art: Tracing the Development of Spritual Ideals and Art in Tibet, Milan, 1999, cat. no. 103.

The format of the painting, with the large central enthroned image of the master against a background of stylised multi-coloured mountain staves, and surrounded by Taglung lineage, is based on the Taglung portraits of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, see Jane Casey Singer, ‘Taklung Painting’ in Jane Casey Singer and Philip Denwood, eds, Tibetan Art: Towards a Definition of Style, London, 1997, pp. 52-67. Amy Heller suggests this thangka, together with the portrait of Jigten Wangchuk in the preceeding lot, may have been done in the traditional style to accompany an existing series of portraits from the earlier period, see Amy Heller, Tibetan Art: Tracing the Development of Spiritual Ideals and Art in Tibet, Milan, 1999, p. 196.

The Tibetan inscription at verso can be translated as follows:

Salutations to the Precious Guru, Precious Guru, hum, master of meditation.

We venerate you Palden Rinchen, the protector of sentient beings, both living and dead, you who are the best captain of liberation in the ocean of Samsara.

I pray for the blessing of merciful meditation.

Born from the realm of great precious merits, by the great bliss, strength transforms to infallible wisdom. Protector of being, born from the three lands of great liberation of Dharma, we praise your body which is a precious jewel, transformed into spontaneous infallible wisdom. You are the most compassionate of all, the yogin bissfully maintaining the lineage of teachings with nine perfections.

Salutations to the best name of Ratnaguru, incomparable master of compassion and master of the power to fulfill all wishes and all needs, who appeases all the difficulties of human life. I bow at the feet of the best-born lama.

As for your precious speech, it has the sixty melodious tones to teach the infallible path of enlightenment, and it is famous as the best path, holy in its sanctity.

As for the precious mind of the best protector of beings, it is perfectly pure, kept like a treasure of compassion, full of the constant thought of what is beneficial for others. I bow to the mind of the lama which is ultimate bliss. Giving utmost respect to the glory of the body, speech and mind, I bow. Entirely appeasing all obstactles of the three poisons, I pray for the blessing by the lama's body, speech and mind.

By the merits of making this offering (i.e. the thangka) and praises (i.e. the dedicatory prayer), may the glory of the accomplished lineage increase and by precious retribution of the share of karma, may we reach the insight of wisdom. We make these words of prayer to never be separated from the incomparable lama, the holy precious master. May this purify the mind of all illusions and may there be the power of guiding all beings. May there be blessing with the pure realization of this thangka and prayer as a support of complete good qualities. May it be the best support for bringing happiness for the cherished dharma master, he who penetrates the meaning of the union of the two truths, wisdom and compassion.