A THANGKA OF VAJRADHARA, 18TH CENTURY Tibet. Distemper on cloth. Vajradhara is depicted seated in dhyanasana on a lotus throne supported by snow lions with offerings and Buddhist emblems placed before him, flanked by elephants and other creatures. His two hands are folded across the heart in the mudra of non-duality, while holding a vajra scepter and a vajra-handled bell, wearing a dhoti and bejeweled, his face with a meditative expression, further surrounded by other deities and several Mahasiddha.

Provenance: From a private collection in Belgium, acquired from Mrs. L. and Mr. B., former ambassador of UNESCO in India, in office between 1960 and 1970.
Condition: Good condition with old wear, soiling, creasing, minor losses and touchups. The textile mounting with few tears.

Dimensions: Image size 46 x 31.5 cm, Size incl. mounting 96.5 x 48.5 cm, Size of frame 117 x 70.4 cm

With a silk brocade frame, mounted as a hanging scroll. Matted and framed behind glass.

Vajradhara is the supreme, primordial Buddha without beginning or end, lord of all mysteries, master of all secrets, who is the root-deity of many Tantric Buddhist teachings.

Literature comparison: Compare a related thangka of Vajradhara in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, accession number F1905.67.

十八世紀金剛總持唐卡
西藏，布面膠畫，掛軸。金剛總持結跏趺坐坐於蓮座上，由兩隻雪獅馱著。雪獅前放著供品和佛教法器，兩側是大象和其他瑞獸。他的兩隻手交叉置於胸前，同時拿著金剛杵和金剛鈴；他身著天衣，佩戴華麗珠光，表情似乎在冥想，四周圍繞著其他本尊和幾位大成就者。

來源：比利時私人收藏，購於Mrs. L. 與 Mr. B.處， 曾經於1960年至1970年間擔任聯合國教科文組織在印度的大使。
品相：狀況良好，磨損、污漬、摺痕、輕微缺損和修補。織物鑲嵌有輕微水漬。

尺寸： 畫面46 x 31.5 厘米, 總96.5 x 48.5 厘米, 框117 x 70.4 厘米

錦面裝幀成掛軸，玻璃裝框。