Painted Banner (Thangka) of Sage Guru Padmasambhava Seated Holding a Thunderbolt (Vajra) and Skull Cup (Kapala)
18th century
Medium
Opaque watercolor with some powdered gold on a woven textile support
Dimensions
60 × 43.4 cm (23 5/8 × 17 1/8 in.)
Classification
painting
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
34310
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 18th-century thangka, a traditional Tibetan Buddhist painted banner, depicts the revered sage Guru Padmasambhava—also known as Guru Rinoche—seated in meditative pose. He holds a vajra, or thunderbolt, symbolizing indestructible nature of enlightenment, in his right hand, and a kapala, a skull cup representing transcendence over death and ego, in his. Created with opaque watercolor and touches of powdered gold on a woven textile support, this 60 × 43.4 cm painting exemplifies the portable artistry of Himalayan Buddhist traditions, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts...
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...