EASTERN TIBET, 18TH CENTURY Distemper on cloth. Himalayan Art Resources item no.61580 33.7 x 33.7 cm (13 1/4 x 13 1/4 in.)Footnotes藏東 十八世紀 金剛瑜伽母壇城 This distinctive mandala is composed of fine brushstrokes and ingenious configurations. At the core, Vajrayogini appears within a scarlet six-pointed star, representing her womb as a source of great bliss. It appears at the center of a complementary, forest-green circle of scrolling vines. Vignettes around it depict the eight charnel grounds protected within the silhouette of a cosmic visvavajra and encircling fire. A bone parasol surmounts the entirety. At the top left is Mahasiddha Naropa and top right is the Buddha Vira Vajradharma. The bottom left corner depicts Shri Shmashana Adhipati, the two dancing skeletons. A kneeling donor is in the bottom right. Two related examples are published in Huntington & Bangdel, The Circle of Bliss, Chicago, 2003. p.392, no.119 and Rhie & Thurman, Worlds of Transformation, New York, 1999, p.440, no.175. Provenance: Rossi & Rossi Ltd., London Private European Collection