A THANGKA MANDALA OF A DEITY CHINA, QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A THANGKA MANDALA OF A DEITY CHINA, QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY The thangka is painted in vivid mineral colours on a rectangular cloth support, the composition centred on a complex mandala enclosing a seated blue deity within a circular lotus-like field. The image is arranged with strong architectural symmetry, combining square palace structures, circular registers, radiating bands and surrounding celestial figures, all set within a richly coloured cosmological landscape. At the centre, the deity sits cross-legged within a roundel, encircled by ritual emblems and petal-like divisions. Around this sacred core, the mandala palace is articulated through stepped gateways, geometric walls and layered enclosures, rendered in saturated greens, yellows, reds and blues. The outer circular band contains further ritual and architectural motifs, creating a carefully ordered visual field intended for devotional contemplation. The surrounding registers are populated by figures in clouds, attendant deities, monks and celestial beings, arranged above and below the mandala. These figures animate the composition while reinforcing the hierarchical structure of the image, moving from the central deity outward through the mandala’s protective and heavenly zones. The lower area includes additional seated figures and offerings, anchoring the painting within a devotional context. Produced in China during the Qing dynasty, the thangka reflects the close artistic and religious exchange between Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the Qing imperial world. Mandala paintings of this type functioned as visualisations of a deity’s cosmic palace, serving as aids to meditation, ritual practice and teaching. The precision of the design, bright palette and densely populated celestial setting are characteristic of late Qing devotional painting made for Buddhist use. The work retains a strong decorative presence, with its intricate mandala scheme, lively figural passages and striking central deity giving the composition both ritual authority and visual richness. Length x Width: 70 x 48.5cm

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