007
The Arhat, Nagasena
Thangka, painting
Silk support with Chinese black ink
20.25 x 38.5 inches
North China
Ca. late16th century
Chinese court monochrome school
An important document of sixteenth century Chinese-Tibetan relations, this
painting is of Chinese origin but was clearly made in the Tibetan cultural
sphere. The distinctive late Ming Dynasty style of this painting on a characteristic
silk support attests to its Chinese origins. However, there is clear evidence
that the painting was once displayed in a Tibetan-style, sewn mounting.
These facts suggest that the painting may have been a royal gift to a Tibetan
Buddhist monk visiting the Chinese court .
Lin Su-hsing
Museum #: 92.062
Huntington Archive Image Scan #: T1013