TIBETO-CHINESE, 18TH CENTURY

Tibetan Buddhism was patronized by the Qing emperors, particularly the Kangxi Emperor (1662-1722) and his grandson, the Qianlong Emperor (1736-1795), both for personal and political reasons, resulting in a surge in the production of Buddhist sculpture and painting. During the reign of Qianlong, the artisans of the Beijing workshops increasingly emulated sculpture from earlier Indian, Nepalese, and Tibetan periods, using as models the bronzes given as gifts from Tibetan dignitaries to the Qing court. The present figure is part of a group of bronzes cast in emulation of earlier sculptures from Northeastern India during the Pala period, commonly referred to as the Pala Revival style. As Amiyatus was considered to be the deity of long life, it has been suggested that images of the bodhisattva were cast in celebration of the birthdays of the Emperor and royal family members.