A LARGE PAINTED WOOD PANEL DEPICTING A CHITIPATI, TIBET, 18TH-19TH CENTURY

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A LARGE PAINTED WOOD PANEL DEPICTING A CHITIPATI, TIBET, 18TH-19TH CENTURY This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve The Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger, entry from 2012: “No. 809, Door temple with depiction of a skeleton. Tibet. Painted wood. 159 x 80 cm. FH 1988” Gallery price: EUR 2,200 or approx. EUR 3,100 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing. Gilt and distemper on canvas, mounted on wood. The skeletal figure is shown dancing on a flaming triangular dharmodaya, clutching a heart to his chest while a severed eyeball dangles from the lower right hand, its trailing optic nerve looped around the fingers. The central figure is surrounded by auspicious symbols below two kapala (skull cups) flanking the head, all framed by a wide border enclosing flaming skulls on a deep red ground within shaped cartouches, with gold scrolling foliage on a black ground at the corners. The reverse with two backplates. Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Size 162 x 80 cm Chitipati are a divine skeleton couple also and initially known as Shri Shmashana Adhipati, "the lord and lady of the charnel ground." They act as protector deities, particularly against thieves and grave robbers, vowing to destroy enemies of the Dharma. They are closely associated with the Chakrasamvara Tantra and visually represented as intertwined jovial skeletal figures, each holding various attributes, dancing in a halo of wild flames. Their wrathful and skeletal appearance can be likened to a momento mori, acting as a reminder of death and the temporality of all things. As macabre lords of the cremation grounds, they serve to remind Tibetans of the inevitability of death and decay, while at the same time, to celebrate one's ultimate liberation from duality. A much beloved subject in Tibetan Buddhism, the Chitipati are represented on thangkas and appliques, in sculpture, on wooden shrines and furniture, and as elaborate costumes worn during ceremonial dances (Cham), in a visual type that becomes standardized for centuries. Memento mori (Latin for 'remember that you die') is an artistic or symbolic trope acting as a reminder of the inevitability of death. The concept has its roots in the philosophers of classical antiquity and appeared in art and architecture from the medieval period onwards. The most common motif is a skull, often accompanied by one or more bones, or a complete skeleton. Often this alone is enough to evoke the trope, but sometimes other motifs such as a coffin, hourglass, and wilting flowers were added to signify the impermanence of human life. Such art, which already appeared in ancient cultures, is also associated with festivals in remembrance and honor of the deceased, as held by many peoples throughout the world. These include the Mexican Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) and several Tibetan festivals where the dance of the Chitipati is performed. From Leonardo to Basquiat, the most important artists of the modern world were fascinated by the Memento Mori trope. Likewise, the Chitipati are a reminder of the eternal cycle of life and death. Furthermore, there is a mind training practice in Tibetan Buddhism known as Lojong, the 'Four Contemplations to Cause a Revolution in the Mind'. The second of these four is the contemplation of impermanence and death. In particular, one contemplates that: All compounded things are impermanent, The human body is a compounded thing, Therefore, death of the body is certain, The time of death is uncertain and beyond our control. There are a number of classic verse formulations of these contemplations meant for daily reflection to overcome our strong habitual tendency to live as though we will certainly not die today. Auction result comparison: Type: Near identical Auction: Cornette de Saint-Cyr, Paris, 12 June 2021, lot 122 Price: EUR 7,020 or approx. EUR 8,200 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the near identical composition, manner of painting, and motifs. Note the size (167 x 89 cm).

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