佛像鉴定鉴赏收藏

尺寸：108.5 x 75.5 cm
年代：16世纪(dated 1561)
质地：唐卡(Distemper on cotton)
风格：尼泊尔
来源：波士顿美术博物馆
参阅：外部链接
鉴赏：
The Temptation of Shakyamuni (被魔女诱惑的释迦牟尼佛)
Nepalese
dated 1561(Nepal Samvat 681)

Description
Painting in hanging scroll (thangka) format, with decorative stitched borders, mounted on removable support panel

This Nepalese painting illustrates one of the central episodes in the biography of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. Just before he attained enlightenment, the soon-to-be-Buddha was challenged by the evil demon Mara. In an attempt to distract Shakyamuni from his meditation, Mara had his armies swarm around, threatening him and creating a great noise. He also had his lovely daughters dance before the young ascetic. Shakyamuni maintained his concentration with the support of the earth, which rumbled a threat at Mara after the Buddha touched it with his hand. Mara is seen arriving in his chariot in the lower left corner and departing, defeated, in the lower right.

The Buddha Shakyamuni sits in an elaborate throne, wearing a crown, his right hand pointing downward in bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. He is surrounded by a wide variety of demonic figures, some of which gesture threateningly toward him. Below, a group of women dance, while a male figure (Mara) arrives and departs on a chariot.

Inscriptions
In a thin band across the lower part of the painting, in Newari script, an identificatory inscription including a date equivalent to 1561 AD.

Provenance
By 1967, John Goelet, New York, NY (probably purchased in India or Neapl in the 1960's); 1967, gift of Goelet to the MFA. (Accession Date: September 13, 1967)