Artwork
The Bodhisattva Shadakshari Lokeshvara
The Bodhisattva Shadakshari Lokeshvara is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The work portrays a four‑armed deity seated in a meditative pose upon a stylised cloud.
About this work
Overview
The work portrays a four‑armed deity seated in a meditative pose upon a stylised cloud. The figure is adorned with a crown, earrings and a necklace, and is enveloped by a prominent circular motif. Rich red and gold garments contrast with a green field, while a cluster of small, brightly coloured items appears at the lower edge of the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The image represents the Bodhisattva Shadakshari Lokeshvara, a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara, the compassionate saviour in Buddhist tradition. Each of the four arms holds an attribute that signifies various aspects of his vow to aid sentient beings, while the surrounding halo underscores his enlightened status.
Technique & Style
Executed in a painting medium, the piece employs vivid pigments to delineate the deity’s attire and the surrounding cloud. The use of gold highlights and the circular framing reflect conventions of Buddhist iconography, while the juxtaposition of red, gold and green creates a dynamic visual hierarchy typical of devotional art.
Context
The composition follows established visual formulas for representing Avalokiteśvara in South‑Asian Buddhist art, where multiple arms and elaborate regalia convey divine power and benevolence. The inclusion of small, colourful objects at the base may indicate offerings or symbolic attributes associated with the bodhisattva’s compassionate activities.
Legacy
Works such as this have served as focal points for worship and meditation, reinforcing the doctrinal emphasis on compassion within Buddhist practice. Their iconographic consistency has facilitated the transmission of Avalokiteśvara’s image across regions and centuries, influencing subsequent artistic renditions of the bodhisattva.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
