Cleveland Museum of Art

Base for Portrait of Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo (1110–1170)

Date

1200s

Medium

gilt bronze, inlaid with gold, silver, copper, turquoise, lapis and coral

Culture

Central Tibet

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This portrait statue depicts the first monastic leader of the prominent Buddhist monastery of Densatil, an influential early leader of the Tibetan Buddhist monastic order called Kagyu, famous for his views on the importance of meditation. He sits on a lotus pedestal and lion throne, like a Buddha, and his hand positions (mudras) communicate that meditation leads to enlightenment.

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