Tibetan Painted Scrolls
Rome: Libreria Dello Stato, 1949.
First Edition. Hardcover. Near fine. Number 124 of a limited edition of 750 copies. Complete three-volume set, comprised of two text volumes (798 pp in total) and a portfolio containing 256 plates, of which 25 are in color. Some minor wear to portfolio, very faint staining to cover of Volume 1, else fine. The publisher's description for the 1999 reprint describes this as a "seminal work on Tibetan Buddhist painting," explaining that "based on his prodigious linguistic skills and pioneering field research throughout the Himalayan kingdoms, Tucci virtually rewrote the history of Tibetan Buddhist painting...and created a foundation upon which all later historical studies, particularly on western Tibet and Nepal, now stand. Tucci commences the study (text vol. I) with surveys on the literature, lineages and traditions of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism and supplements this with descriptions of a number of major Tibetan monastic complexes which no longer survive, as a result of the ravages of Mao's Cultural Revolution. He then explores the thangka painting tradition in detail, covering such topics as origins, evolution, symbolism, iconometry, consecration ceremonies, as well as artistic influences from neighboring Nepal and China. The second part of the study (text vol. II) includes detailed analyses of the 195 thangkas illustrated in some 256 plates in the folio volume, and includes many insightful essays on such topics as regional variations on painting style, the lives of early Buddhist saints and Jataka tales." A very large and heavy set -- additional shipping charges will be requested.
Item #24403
Price: $4,000.00