Milarepa on Mount Kailash
c. 1500
Medium
Pigment and gold on cotton
Dimensions
45.5 × 30 cm (17 7/8 × 11 13/16 in.)
Classification
tankas (scrolls or banners)
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
142526
Art Historical Context
Behold *Milarepa on Mount Kailash*, a captivating Tibetan thangka from around 1500, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department. This intimate scroll painting, measuring just 45.5 × 30 cm, depicts the revered Tibetan yogi and poet Milarepa in meditative repose at the sacred Mount Kailash, a profound symbol of spiritual enlightenment and pilgrimage in Himalayan Buddhism. Thangkas like this were portable banners or scrolls, unrolled for devotion, teaching, or meditation rituals, blending artistry with deep religious purpose. Crafted with pigment and gold on cotton—a traditi...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...