A RED-GROUND AND GILT THANGKA OF AMITAYUS, WULIANG SHOUFO Tibetan-Chinese, late 17^th to 18^th century. Gold and distemper on cloth, with a silk brocade frame and mounted as a hanging scroll. Finely painted in gilt above with the red ground with a magnificent depiction of Amitayus seated in dhyanasana on a lotus throne, supported on an elaborate stepped base decorated with auspicious symbols, holding a vessel in front of him, backed by a flaming halo, wearing long flowing robes and billowing scarves, richly adorned with fine jewelry, all below an inscription identifying the deity.

Inscriptions: To the top, 'Wuliang Shoufo' (Chinese name for Buddha Amitabha).

Provenance: The fine Japanese silk brocade mounting indicates that this thangka must have been in an old Japanese private collection at least 100 years ago. From there it went, most likely across several stations, into the French trade.
Condition: Good original condition with some old wear, creasing, small losses here and there.

Dimensions: Image size 118 x 63 cm, Size incl. mounting 166.5 x 80.3 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related Tibetan red-ground thangka of Amitayus, also painted mostly in gold, dated circa 1800 and attributed to Central or Eastern Tibet, in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.83.253.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams New York, 19 March 2012, lot 1106
Price: USD 16,250 or approx. EUR 20,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A red-ground thangka of Shakyamuni Buddha, Tibet, 17th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of painting with similar red ground and extensive use of gold. Note the smaller size (66 x 44.4 cm).



紅地描金無量壽佛唐卡
漢藏，十七世紀末至十八世紀，布面膠彩描金，掛軸。阿彌陀佛結禪定坐坐於蓮座上，雙手捧著甘露瓶，置於身前，佩戴著華美的珠寶，面容沉穩，五葉冠後高髻，身後有光背。

款識：無量壽佛

來源：精美的日本絲錦裝裱表明這幅唐卡至少在 100 年前就已被日本私人收藏，之後輾轉進入法國的古玩交易。
品相：原始狀態良好，有一些磨損，摺痕，到處都有小缺損。

尺寸：畫面118 x 63厘米，總166.5 x 80.3 厘米

文獻比較：
比較一件非常相近的大約1800年西藏紅地描金阿彌陀佛唐卡，來自於西藏中部或東部，收藏於洛杉磯郡立美術館，編號M.83.253。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約邦瀚斯，2012年3月19日，lot 1106
價格：USD 16,250（相當於今日EUR 20,500）
描述：十七世紀紅地描金釋迦摩尼唐卡
專家評論：比較非常相近的紅地描金。請注意尺寸較小(66 x 44.4厘米)。