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Lot Essay
The Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the largest of four sub-school of the Kagyu tradition, whose origins date back to the 12th century.
This finely rendered painting of the 6th Karmapa Tongwa Tonden (1416-1453), is the eighteenth composition from a large set of Karma Kagyu lineage teacher paintings known as the Kagyu Sertreng. With a rich iconographic narrative, the painting depicts Saraswati, goddess of literature, poetry and wisdom, seated on a cloud at the upper right; the third Shamarpa Chopel Yeshe (1406-1452), which translates to "Holder of the Red Hat," seated to the right; and just below him, the renowned Sakya teacher, Rongton Sheja Kunzig (1367-1449).
Compare with a set of seven paintings depicting lineage teachers of the Karma bKa’-brgyud-pa tradition (D. Jackson, A History of Tibetan Painting, 1995, p. 292, figs.148-154).
This finely rendered painting of the 6th Karmapa Tongwa Tonden (1416-1453), is the eighteenth composition from a large set of Karma Kagyu lineage teacher paintings known as the Kagyu Sertreng. With a rich iconographic narrative, the painting depicts Saraswati, goddess of literature, poetry and wisdom, seated on a cloud at the upper right; the third Shamarpa Chopel Yeshe (1406-1452), which translates to "Holder of the Red Hat," seated to the right; and just below him, the renowned Sakya teacher, Rongton Sheja Kunzig (1367-1449).
Compare with a set of seven paintings depicting lineage teachers of the Karma bKa’-brgyud-pa tradition (D. Jackson, A History of Tibetan Painting, 1995, p. 292, figs.148-154).