Vajradhatu Mandala

YOU COULD WRITE A BOOK ABOUT A PAINTING LIKE THIS, BUT AS THE GALLERISTS AT LONDON’S ROSSI & ROSSI NOTE, IT “HAS NOT YET BEEN THE OBJECT OF A THOROUGH AND CONCLUSIVE STUDY.” WHEN ONE IS UNDERTAKEN, RESEARCHERS WILL FIND PLENTY OF MATERIAL TO WORK WITH. PRODUCED IN THE 11TH CENTURY, THIS SCENE IS PACKED WITH TIBETAN BUDDHIST IMAGERY: A COURTYARD PALACE, BUDDHAS AT THE FOUR CARDINAL POINTS, AND DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF BUDDHIST MYTHOLOGY REPRESENTED IN EVERY LINE, COLOUR AND FIGURE IN THE PAINTING.