060
The Benefactor, Six-Armed Mahakala ("Great Black/Time")
Thangka, painting
Cotton support with opaque mineral pigments in waterbased (collagen) binder
18.0 x 27.5 inches
Eastern Tibet (Kham region)
Ca. 17th or 18th century
Indeterminate style
In contrast to the folk tradition, this work is
typical of the classical style of Tibetan painting. Characterized by finely
executed figures, elegant painting and evident vitality, the classical style,
developed in central Tibet, a region close to the main Buddhist religious
centers. Mahakala is here represented with three heads and in union with
his female counterpart. This simply indicates an esoteric version of the
deity illustrated in the folk painting.
Chaya Chandrasekhar
Museum #: 93.010
Huntington Archive Image Scan #: T1054