A THANGKA OF A LAMA AND CHANGKYA RÖLPE DORJE (1717-1786), QIANLONG PERIOD China, 1736-1795. Gold and distemper on cloth. The elderly lama is seated with legs crossed on cushions resting on the platform of a throne with offerings placed before him, his right hand raised in karana mudra and holding a vajra, the left lowered in the same gesture and holding a ghanta. He is wearing loose-fitting monastic robes and a tall yellow pointed cap, characteristic of the Gelugpa sect. Above the lama is a smaller image of a high pontiff, probably Changkya Rölpé Dorjé, holding a vase and lotus stems coming to full bloom at the shoulders and wearing a folded hat, which is also associated with portraits of the Panchen Lama. All within a rich verdant landscape with trees, mountains, and waterfalls amid thick swirling clouds.

Provenance: Belgian trade.
Condition: Extensive wear, soiling, staining, creasing, minor losses, small tears. The silk brocade mounting faded. Overall fair condition.

Dimensions: Image size 39 x 27.5 cm, Size incl. frame 54 x 41 cm

Expert's note: The small upper figure in the present thangka probably depicts Changkya Rölpé Dorjé, the preceptor of the Qianlong Emperor, and is one of a small group of works that consistently portray the idiosyncratic physiognomy of this eminent figure, with a fine mustache, sparse goatee, and a particularly notable strabismus of the left eye.

Changkya Rölpé Dorjé (1717-1786) was born in Amdo and educated at the court of the Yongzheng Emperor where he formed a strong relationship with his fellow student Hongli, the future Qianlong Emperor. Promoted to state preceptor by the new emperor, he became one of the most important and influential figures at the Qianlong court, in both religious and diplomatic affairs. He was recognized as the incarnate Changkya Khutukhtu, the Mongolian lineage of Buddhist masters. He presided over complex Buddhist state rituals, revitalized ancient Buddhist traditions and promoted revised teaching systems and Buddhist iconographic programs. He compiled the renowned illustrated pantheon of Three Hundred and Sixty Icons, and was responsible for the translation of important Buddhist texts into Mongolian. Under the auspices of the emperor, Changkya Rölpé Dorjé was responsible for the prodigious production of almost all Imperial Buddhist works of art seen in the eighteenth century, and is regarded as a visionary character that greatly contributed to the legacy of the Qianlong reign.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related portrait in the Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde in Munich, published by Andreas Lommel, Kunst des Buddhismus, München, 1974, p. 161, pl. 87. Compare a related thangka of a Gelugpa lama, dated to the first half of the 19^th century, in the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, accession number EA1983.26.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's Paris, 18 December 2012, lot 30
Price: EUR 228,750 or approx. EUR 275,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Tangka impérial de Changkya Hutuktu Rölpé Dorjé (1717-1786) détrempe sur tissu Chine, dynastie Qing, époque Qianlong (1736-1795)
Expert remark: Compare the related depiction of Rolpai Dorje with similar fine mustache, sparse goatee, and faint strabismus of the left eye. Compare the related manner of painting with similar robes, pointed cap, lotus blossoms, and clouds. Note that this is an Imperial thangka of slightly larger size (48.4 x 33 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's London, 7 November 2014, lot 485
Price: GBP 22,500 or approx. EUR 33,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A thangka probably depicting the Changkya Hutuktu Rolpai Dorje (1717-1786), China, Qianlong period
Expert remark: Compare the related manner of painting with similar robes, folded cap, lotus blossoms, and clouds. Note this thangka probably depicts a young Changkya Rölpé Dorjé and is of slightly larger size (55.3 x 38.1 cm).



乾隆喇嘛與章嘉·若必多吉唐卡
中國，1736-1795年，布面膠彩描金。畫面中央一位年邁的喇嘛盤腿墊子上，面前有供品，他的右手舉起施羯剌拏手印並拿著金剛杵，左手拿著一個金剛鈴。 他穿著寬鬆的僧袍，頭戴黃色尖頂高帽，格魯派的特色。喇嘛上方是一個較小的高僧像，可能是章嘉·若必多吉，手持花瓶，肩部盛開的蓮花，頭戴折疊帽，這也與班禪喇嘛的肖像有關。四周山水景觀。

來源：比利時古玩交易。
品相：大面積磨損、污漬、皺褶、小缺損、小撕裂。絲錦鑲嵌褪色。總體狀況良好。

尺寸：畫面39 x 27.5 厘米，總54 x 41 厘米

專家注釋：這幅唐卡上的小圖可能描繪的是章嘉·若必多吉，鬍鬚纖細，山羊胡稀疏，左眼斜視尤為明顯。

文獻比較：
比較一件相近的畫像，收藏於慕尼黑國立民俗博物館，見Andreas Lommel，《Kunst des Buddhismus》，慕尼黑，1974年，頁161，編號87。比較一件相近的十九世紀上半葉格魯派喇嘛，牛津大學Ashmolean 博物館，編號EA1983.26。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：巴黎蘇富比，2012年12月18日，lot 30
價格：EUR 228,750（相當於今日EUR 275,500）
描述：乾隆章嘉·若必多吉唐卡
專家評論：比較相近章嘉·若必多吉的鬍子、稀疏的山羊鬍和左眼微弱斜眼。比較相近的繪畫風格，例如長袍、尖形帽、身後的蓮花和雲朵。請注意此為御製唐卡，且尺寸較大(48.4 x 33厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2014年11月7日，lot 485
價格：GBP 22,500（相當於今日EUR 33,000）
描述：乾隆章嘉·若必多吉唐卡
專家評論：比較相近的繪畫風格，例如長袍、折帽、身後的蓮花和雲朵。 請注意此唐卡可能是描繪年輕的章嘉·若必多吉，且尺寸較大(55.3 x 38.1厘米)。