A thangka depicting Simhamukha Mahakala, Tibet, 18th century

Collection of Lionel (1943-2017) and Danielle Fournier.

Christie's Paris, 12th December 2018, lot 56.

The thangka depicts the lion-faced emanation of Mahakala holding a lance and skull cup filled with offerings (torma), dressed in a voluminous robe riding through smoke and flames in a mountainous landscape with his consort Sengdongma, the monkeys Duti and Duta walking on their hands at either side, Tsiu Marpo and Dorje Legpa below and surrounded by mounted Protectors, with Chakrasamvara and Hayagriva above flanking a seated Sharmapa

Amy Heller has identified the lama depicted at the apex of the painting as Khachö Wangpo (1350-1405), the second Sharmapa, associating this rare black painting with the Sharmapa order of Tibetan Buddhism, see Nathalie Bazin, ed., Rituels tibétains: Visions secrètes du Ve Dalai Lama, Paris, 2002.