The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 1, 2023

Portrait of Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo (1110–1170)

1200s

Part of a set. See all set records

Central Tibet

Gilt bronze with gold, silver, copper, turquoise, lapis, and coral inlay

Overall: 13.5 x 12 x 8.5 cm (5 5/16 x 4 3/4 x 3 3/8 in.); Base: 8 x 19 x 14 cm (3 1/8 x 7 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1993.160

Location

237 Himalayan

Description

This portrait statue depicts the first monastic leader of the prominent Buddhist monastery of Densatil, an influential early leader of the Tibetan Buddhist monastic order called Kagyu, famous for his views on the importance of meditation. He sits on a lotus pedestal and lion throne, like a Buddha, and his hand positions (mudras) communicate that meditation leads to enlightenment.

Inscriptions

Inscription

/ / Na mo 'ghu ru / / Ngan lam ban chung bdag gis ni / / bla ma Rin chen sku bzhengs pa yi / / bsod nams 'di yi byin brlabs kyis / / 'gro drug sdug sngal zad par shog / / Translation: "Salutations to the master ! May the sufferings of the six kinds of beings be appeased through the blessing of merit gained by me, the little monk of Ngan.lam, in having this statue of the Lama Rin.chen made."

Provenance
?-1993
(David Tremayne, Ltd., London, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
1993-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
"1993 Annual Report." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 81, no. 6 (1994): 143-218. Reproduced: p. 157; Mentioned: p. 158 www.jstor.org
Huntington, John C., Dina Bangdel, and Robert A. F. Thurman. The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art. Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2003. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 35, pp. 160-162
Rossi & Rossi Ltd, and Eti Bonn-Muller. Classical Selection 2014. London: Rossi & Rossi Ltd, 2014. Mentioned: P. 42
Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1993.160