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Black background paintings such as this are traditionally reserved for wrathful deities. Energetic outlines in gold and red emphasize the artist’s brushwork mastery and are typical of this format. One remarkable feature of this painting is Dorje Lekpa’s silver teeth, to catch the flickering light of butter lamps in the dimly lit special chapels dedicated to protector deities.
Dorje Lekpa
OriginKham Region, Eastern Tibet
Date19th century
Dimensions19 × 12 5/8 in.
MediumPigments on cloth
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art, Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin
Object numberC2006.66.135
Himalayan Art Resources Number93
Project Himalayan Arthttps://rubinmuseum.org/projecthimalayanart/essays/dorje-discovered-by-dorje-lingpa/
DescriptionDorje Lekpa is an oath-bound protector originating in Tibet who was converted from his destructive behavior by Padmasabhava. The figures above him monitor him to ensure that he maintains his vows. Although Dorje Lekpa likely functioned as the protector of a particular geographic region, he has become prominent within Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhism, and a special guardian of the revealed treasure (terma) tradition.Black background paintings such as this are traditionally reserved for wrathful deities. Energetic outlines in gold and red emphasize the artist’s brushwork mastery and are typical of this format. One remarkable feature of this painting is Dorje Lekpa’s silver teeth, to catch the flickering light of butter lamps in the dimly lit special chapels dedicated to protector deities.
Not on view
late 19th century
ca. 1415-1435
dated by inscription, 1871
18th century
19th century
early 19th century
18th century
19th century
