Samantabhadra Bodhisattva

CHINA; Qing dynasty

The lengthy inscription in the upper register of this unique painting was signed by Luo Pin. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva is portrayed as a bearded figure wearing a simple headdress and a flowing robe. The Bodhisattva holds a scripture and sits upon a bed of ferns on a large rock inside a karst cave. Below, a six-tusked white elephant stands upright on its hind legs while the front feet appear to be joined in reverence. The elephant raises its trunk and offers two red blossoming lotuses to the Bodhisattva. The realistic appearance of the cave is created with washes of ink. Rippling lines are used to suggest the rough texture of the elephant’s skin.