Indian and Himalayan Art Portrait of Sonam Lhundrup Made in Mustang district, Nepal, AsiaSakya, 16th century Namkha Drag, Tibetan, active in 16th century Copper alloy with silver and copper inlay, pigment, and cold gold * Gallery 232, Asian Art, second floor 2003-6-1 Purchased with the Stella Kramrisch Fund, 2003 |
LabelSonam Lhundrup, the Great Abbot of the Kingdom of Lo, is believed to be an incarnation of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, as indicated by the sword and book that appear on the lotuses at his shoulders. Lo (also called Mustang) became fabulously wealthy between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, thanks to the lucrative salt trade between Tibet and Nepal. The prosperity of this kingdom and its ruling family is apparent in the luxurious use of inlaid silver and copper in the monk’s robes and the cold gold paint on the face, hands, and feet. The rare inscription offers insight into the identity of the subject, sculptor, and patron. It states that the sculpture was made by Namkha Drag, and commissioned by Tsewang Gyalpo, a descendent of Amapel, the first king of Mustang. Two elegant stanzas give the name of the abbot depicted (Sonam Lhundrup), and the meaning of this name, interwoven within the text:Brilliantly shining field of countless excellent virtues and merits (Sonam), * Works in the collection are moved off view for many different reasons. Although gallery locations on the website are updated regularly, there is no guarantee that this object will be on display on the day of your visit. |
