Masterworks Jewels of the Collection
February 6, 2013 - January 13, 2014
Virupaksha, the Guardian King of the West; China; Qing dynasty, 17th–18th century; clay, polychrome, stone eyes, wooden base, and interior armature; C2010.10
Masterworks: Jewels of the Collection showcases the best of Himalayan art in the Rubin Museum's collection in their international context. This new presentation provides access to old favorites and new acquisitions and gifts. Organized geographically, it sets the diverse regional traditions of western Tibet, central Tibet, eastern Tibet, and Bhutan in relation to the neighboring areas of India, Kashmir, Nepal, China, and Mongolia. Highlights include a Chinese clay image of the guardian king Virupaksha.
Other highlights in the exhibition include a 12th century lotus mandala of Hevajra from Northeastern India, a historically extremely important drawing with the footprints of the founder of a major Tibetan Buddhist School predating 1217, a dated bilingual silk edict from the court of the 5th Dalai Lama, and a contemporaneous portrait of this important Dalai Lama incarnation in gold on red background. Dynamic wrathful deities range from the fifteenth-century snake-bodied personification of the eclipse, Rahula, to the extremely fierce Bhutanese representation of the protective goddess Dusolma.
Life-size facsimiles of an entire sequence of murals from the Lukhang, the Dalai Lamas’ Secret Temple near the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, provide an exceptional opportunity for viewing Himalayan art at its most lavish and remain part of the Masterworks exhibition. The original 18th century wall paintings—inaccessible to the public until the late 20th century—uniquely depict the most esoteric of meditation and yoga practices in vivid color and detail. Created with new photographic methods by Thomas Laird and Clint Clemens, this display of large-format, high resolution pigment prints allows for even better access to the paintings than is possible in the temple itself. Their presentation at the Rubin marks the first showing in the world of prints created using this technology, and also provides the first ever opportunity outside Tibet to view life-size Tibetan murals in their relationship to portable art from the region.
To learn even more about Masterworks, read the press release.
Curated by Christian Luczanits
Masterworks: Jewels of the Collection was made possible, in part, with an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Featured Video
Watch Curator's Choice: Masterworks: Jewels of the Collection on PBS. See more from NYC-ARTS.
Exhibition Resources
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An illustrated keytalk by Dr. Toni Huber which explores images of hunting found in Tibetan paintings and manuscript illustrations. Learn More |
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Explore the Organization and Iconography in early Tibetan paintings and how the relative size and placement of figures is based upon the religious hierarchy of deities. To experience the interactive, choose from the following: |
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Explore the Composition and Structure of a beautifully intricate early 19th century Tibetan painting. Learn the three-fold division that is typical of Tibetan paintings. To experience the interactive, click below: |
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Click here to view the Educator Resource Guide for the exhibition Masterworks: Jewels of the Collection. |
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Click here to view the current installation of Masterworks: Jewels of the Collection (2012, Rotation B). |
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Reading List The Nepalese Legacy in Tibetan Painting by David P. Jackson Mandala: Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism by Martin Brauen Demonic Divine:Himalayan Art and Beyond by Robert N. Linrothe and Marylin M. Rhie Patron and Painter: Situ Panchen and the Revival of the Encampment Style by David P. Jackson Worlds of Transformation: Tibetian Art of Wisdom and Compassion by Marilyn M. Rhie and Robert Thurman |
Audio Tour
Related Presentation: The Chase and the Dharma
Explore Organization and Iconography
Explore Composition and Structure
Educator Resource Guides
Installation Photographs
