A THANGKA DEPICTING GURU DRAGPO TIBET, 18TH CENTURY

the wrathful form of Padmasambhava, Guru Dragpo, standing in a flaming aureole in alidhasana, the two rainbow aureoles above Guru Dragpo depicting Padmasambhava at upper left and the dharma king Trisong Detsen at upper right, Guru Dragpo holding a vajra in the raised right hand and the distinguishing attribute the vrishcika or nine-headed black scorpion in the left hand, with three fierce bloodshot eyes, the eyebrows and beard depicted in flames, with a gathering of playful monkeys at lower left and the wrathful offerings of the six senses at lower center

Private Berlin collection, before 1981.

Helmut Uhlig,Tantrische Kunst des Buddhismus, Berlin, 1981, p. 289, cat. no. 161.

Wear and accretion overall consistent with age. Some fading to pigments, as illustrated. Reds slightly less saturated than in catalogue illustration. Small scattered areas of loss along lower register. Original stitching holes around the border of the painting, now visible without the original mount. Exhibited in a temporary frame.
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Himalayan Art Resources item no. 12868.