Avalokiteśvara (Chenrezig) – Nepalese Buddhist Devotional Painting

An antique Nepalese–Himalayan Buddhist devotional painting depicting Avalokiteśvara (Chenrezig), the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The central multi-armed figure is shown in a serene posture with hands joined at the heart, symbolizing infinite compassion and the ability to aid all sentient beings. A small seated Buddha figure appears within the crown, a key identifying attribute of Avalokiteśvara.

The painting is executed in traditional mineral pigments with gold-toned detailing and mounted to a solid wooden board, a format commonly used for household shrines and devotional spaces in Nepal rather than formal textile thangkas. Surrounding cloud motifs and attendant figures reinforce the celestial and spiritual nature of the image.

Surface wear, pigment loss, and patina are present throughout, consistent with age and devotional handling. The reverse shows an aged wooden backing with an old metal hanging hook, indicating long-term ritual use rather than decorative production.

Acquired in