A REMARKABLY FINE THANGKA DEPICTING SIX ARHATS, TIBET, 18TH CENTURY
The upper section with Kanaka Bharadvaja seated on a throne with a kundika, alms bowl, and lotus leaves beside him, his hands held in dhyana mudra, flanked below by Pindola Bharadvaja seated on a cushion holding a manuscript and alms bowl as well as Cudapanthaka seated with his hands folded in front, all above the central Rahula holding a foliate crown. The lower section depicts Panthaka seated on an elaborate throne with his right hand in vitarkamudra while the left holds a manuscript, beside Nagasena placed on a bench resting against a cushion holding a khakkhara in his right hand and a vase in his left.


Provenance:
From a private collection in southern Corsica, France, acquired 1992 or earlier, and thence by descent in the family. The back of the frame with a signed label from the Corsican framer, dated 10 September 1992.

Condition:
Good condition with old wear, some soiling and abrasions, light creasing, minor losses. Not inspected outside the frame.

Dimensions: Image size 63.4 x 46 cm, Size incl. frame 72 x 51 cm


Each arhat with an identifying inscription
, the border with further inscriptions. All are clad in monk’s garments, surrounded by worshipers or attendants, and placed in a verdant mountain landscape with deer, a tiger, and long-tailed birds perched on a fruiting tree, with exquisite rockwork and trickling streams that roll elegantly down the hillside. The lower section with a Nagini emerging from the water holding a sacred jewel. Ushnishavijaya is seated on a lotus cushion, backed by a mandorla and halo, in the upper right corner amid swirling clouds.

Distemper and gold on cloth. Framed behind glass. (2)


The present painting
belongs to a noted group of thangkas, always depicting several of the Sixteen Arhats. The grouping of sixteen Arhats was brought to Tibet from India and they are well represented in Tibetan art. They are also known as the sixteen sthaviras (elders) and are the subject of a liturgical practice associated with the festival of the Buddha's birth, composed by the Kashmiri teacher Shakyahribhadra (1127-1225).


Literature comparison:

Compare a six-part set of related arhat thangkas dated to the 19th century, from the Alice S. Kandell Collection and now in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession numbers S2013.28.1-6.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s London, 7 November 2014, lot 490
Price: GBP 30,000 or approx.
EUR 52,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A thangka depicting four arhats, Tibet, ca. 17th century
Expert remark: Compare the related subject and manner of painting. Note the size (59.1 x 41.9 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 21 March 2012, lot 354
Price: USD 15,000 or approx.
EUR 18,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pair of arhat thangkas distemper on cloth laid on boar, Tibet
Expert remark: Compare the related subject and manner of painting. Note this lot comprises a pair. Note the size (56.5 x 36.2 cm).




西藏十八世紀六羅漢唐卡


半部分是迦諾迦跋厘尊者坐在寶座上，身旁有軍持壺、施捨缽和蓮葉，雙手結禪定印；賓度羅跋囉尊者坐在坐墊上，手裡拿著經書和施捨缽，而注荼半吒迦尊者雙手合十，坐於中央羅睺羅之上，手持葉冠。下半部分描繪了半託迦尊者坐在精緻的寶座上，右手結了維塔卡手印，而左手則拿著一份經文，旁邊的那迦犀那尊者坐在長凳上，右手拿著錫杖，左手拿著花瓶。


來源：
法國科西嘉島南部的私人收藏，1992 年或更早購得，家族傳承。框架背面帶有科西嘉框架製造商的簽名標籤，日期為 1992 年 9 月 10 日。

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損，一些污垢和擦傷，有輕微摺痕。未在框架外進行檢查。

尺寸：畫面63.4 x 46 厘米，總72 x 51 厘米


文獻比較:

比較一件相近的十九世紀羅漢唐卡，來自Alice S. Kandell收藏，現藏於史密森學會國立藝術博物館，館藏編號S2013.28.1-6。


拍賣比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2014年11月7日，lot 490
價格：GBP 30,000（相當今日
EUR 52,000
）
描述：約十七世紀四羅漢唐卡
專家註釋：比較相近的主題和繪畫風格。請注意尺寸 (59.1 x 41.9 厘米)。


拍賣比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2012年3月21日，lot 354
價格：USD 15,000（相當今日
EUR 18,500
）
描述：西藏一對布製羅漢唐卡
專家註釋：比較相近的主題和繪畫風格. 請注意此為一對，以及尺寸 (56.5 x 36.2 厘米)。