BUDDHA AMITHABA AND HIS SPHERE OF BLISS - SUKHAVATI Tibet, 19th ct. 80,5 x 54,5 (141,5 x 89,5 cm) Buddha Amitabha is enthroned on an expansive lotus throne with a white moon disc on its stamens. It is the symbol of relative (samsaric) truth as represented by the peaceful deities, in contrast to the solar disc of the wrathful appearances. The lotus throne lies on an altar-like table with peacocks in front of it as its throne animals, which is in a temple with golden roofs. Buddha Amitabha, belonging to the lotus family, and therefore of red body colour, sits in the diamond seat with his legs crossed. He holds his two hands in meditation posture in his lap, holding an alms bowl. In the bowl are fruits, symbolising the Three Jewels - Buddha, Dharma, Sangha. Amitabha is dressed in a precious golden robe and an orange robe interwoven with gold. His lower robe is brown-red and also interwoven with gold. His body is surrounded by a lapis lazuli-coloured, radiant aureole, and his head by a bright malachite-coloured gloriole. The Buddha of the Immeasurable Splendour of Light is accompanied by the Mahabodhisattvas Padmapani (l) and Vajrapani (r), and six other Mahabodhisattvas - these are enlightened beings of Mahayana Buddhism. The splendidly decorated paradise of Amitabha is adorned with lush flowering peonies and many gold-covered wishing trees, and surrounded by a five-coloured rainbow. One sutra says: "The Tathagata now dwells and proclaims the law in the western realm, in the Buddha land, removed from this world by countless hundreds of thousands of Buddha lands, in the world called Sukhavati". On a cloud, Buddha Amitabha, accompanied by Padmapani and Vajrapani, emerges from his "Pure Land" to receive devotees and sacrificers. With his radiant light he illuminates many Buddhas and countless Buddha lands, recognisable by small temples with golden roofs, and water basins in front with human figures purifying themselves and monks offering worship. On calyxes appear beings whose wish is to be reborn in the paradise of Sukhavati. Tempera and gold on cotton fabric; gold-interwoven silk satin, with bija with dragon motif; inscription in Devanagari in gold on a black ground at the lower edge of the picture. Former old German private collection, assembled in the 1980s Wear, mounting with minor damages due to age