Painted Banner (Thangka) of Portrait of Sakya Pandita (1132 - 1251)
c. 1800
Medium
Pigment on cloth
Dimensions
65 × 50 cm (25 5/8 × 19 5/8 in.)
Classification
painting
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
144984
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This thangka depicts Shakyaprabha (Tibetan: Shakya-Ö), an 8th century Indian Buddhist teacher, identified by a Tibetan inscription (shakya 'od) below the main figure. The smaller figures on the lower left and right also bear inscriptions identifying them as two of his students, Sakyamitra (shakya bshes gnyen) and Simhamukha (sing gdong can), respectively. In Tibet, Shakyaprabha is venerated as one of the Indian Buddhist teachers who was influential in the formation of Tibetan Buddhism. This than...
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...