Mogao Cave 17: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

An inscription in the upper-left corner states that this picture was painted by Jiuniang, a female devotee. It was found in Mogao Cave 17, and is thought to date from the 9th century. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is dressed in colorful clothes and stands on lotus pedestals. Stoles are draped over the shoulders and arms. The orange dhoti is decorated with floral patterns. The left hand is held out, supporting a vase with a gilt rim and foot. The right hand holds a willow branch.
Flame patterns surround the nimbus. Four small flowers are painted in the upper register. The picture is bordered by an orange frame and a thin yellow line. This painting of Avalokitesvara is considered to be much smaller in size compared to the collection discovered by Stein. It was thought to have been originally painted with even brighter colors.