The Arts of Nepal and Tibet: Recent Gifts
At The Met Fifth Avenue
January 16, 2016–January 15, 2017
The Met's collection of Nepalese and Tibetan art has recently been transformed by a series of major gifts. This installation features both promised and recently gifted works that are now integrated into the newly refurbished galleries—including an important 12th-century Tibetan bronze Padmapani, a 13th-century bronze Vajravarahi, an important 16th-century Tibetan Hevajra mandala tangka, and a spectacular brass stupa (chorten). The Nepalese gallery has been enriched by a large polychromed wood sculpture of the Goddess of Dance (Nrtyadevi).
These works reflect the generosity of Steve and Sharon Davies, Florence and Herbert Irving, Ann and Gilbert Kinney, and the Zimmerman family.
The installation is made possible in part by The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation Fund.
Top row (left to right): Hevajra Mandala, 15th century. Tibet. Distemper on cloth; Image: 21 1/2 x 17 1/2 in. (54.6 x 44.5 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Stephen and Sharon Davies Collection, 2015 (2015.551). Goddess of Dance (Nrtyadevi), mid-15th century. Nepal (Kathmandu Valley), Malla period. Wood with pigment; H. (incl. base) 33 in. (83.8 cm), W. 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm), D. 9 in. (22.9 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Zimmerman Family Collection, 2016 (2016.21.1). Bottom row (left to right): Stupa, mid-15th century. Tibet. Copper alloy, probably brass; H. 20 in. (50.8 cm), W. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm), Diam. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Zimmerman Family Collection, 2016 (2016.21.2). Bodhisattva Padmapani, the Lotus-Bearer, 12th century. Tibet. Bronze with later turquoise inlay; H. 21 1/4 in. (54 cm), H. (incl. base) 22 1/2 in. (57.2 cm), W. 8 in. (20.3 cm), D. 4 in. (10.2 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Promised Gift of Ann and Gilbert Kinney (L.2015.81). White Tara, accompanied by twenty-one emanations, 14th century. Tibet. Stone with polychrome; H. 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm), W. 10 1/4 in. (26 cm), D. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015 (2015.500.4.19)
