Painted Images of Enlightenment: Early Tibetan Thankas, 1050-1450

Ever since the publication of Giuseppe Tucci's monumental book on Thankas in 1949, early Tibetan Thankas have fascinated scholars. In 1984, when Pratapaditya Pal wrote his groundbreaking book Tibetan Painting, probably fewer than 50 of these eleventh – fourteenth century Tibetan paintings on cloth were known. Since then over 300 early Thankas have appeared. These works provide a plethora of new data for the art historian, and their study has transformed our understanding of their iconography and chronology as well as our knowledge of early Tibetan history and monasticism. However, there has as yet been no book devoted to the subject. This volume will be of value to experts in Tibetan art, to art historian wishing to integrate Tibetan subjects into their teaching, and to the growing body of amateur admirers of Tibetan Thankas.