A Tibetan Thangka of Chaturbhuja Mahakala, early 20th century.

Distemper/gouache on cloth, mounted with black fabric and with a light silk curtain. Depicting a red two-armed Mahakala (Tib. Nagpo Chenpo) with a fearsome and wrathful expression, with red skin, he has three glaring round eyes and a gaping mouth with bared fangs. The hands holds up a dharmachakra and a flaming sword. Adorned with a tiara of five dry skulls, gold earrings, necklace, bracelets and a long necklace of severed heads he wears an upper robe and a lower skirt of tiger. He stands with his feet pushing down two human bodies on a lotus throne. Surrounded by the wild orange flames of pristine awareness and eight deities. Image 49.5 x 35 cm.

Stains. Retouches. Later mounted.