Artwork Details

Title
Four-armed Avalokiteshvara
Dimensions
6 × 4 3/4 × 3 3/8 in.
Medium
Copper alloy with mineral pigments, semi-precious stones, cloth
Origin
Tibet
Classification(s)
sculpture
Date
16th century
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
Object number
C2006.38.1
Currently On View
at Frank Museum of Art, traveling exhibition Gateway to Himalayan Art, until December 12, 2024
HAR Number
65646
Published references
* Van Alphen, J. Collection Highlights: Rubin Museum of Art. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2014. Pp. 248-249

Begin your search...

Visualization

Concepts

A meditation technique primarily used in tantric practice that involves imagining a deity in one’s mind or imagining oneself becoming a deity and carrying out various activities. Such techniques are intended to help a practitioner transform ordinary perception and achieve enlightened qualities.

See more

Compassion

Concepts

The cultivation of a strong aspiration to help sentient beings overcome suffering. In Buddhist Mahayana teaching, compassion is the seed for attaining full enlightenment.  

See more

Bodhisattvas

Figure Type

Beings who aspire to become fully awakened like the Buddha and are dedicated to helping others on the path to enlightenment.

See more

Tibetan Regions

Region

Today, Tibetans primarily inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, situated between the Himalayan mountain range and the Indian subcontinent to the west, Chinese cultural regions to the east, and Mongolian cultural regions to the northeast. During the 7th to 9th century, Tibetan rulers expanded their empire across Central Asia, and established Buddhism as the state religion.

See more

Sign up for our emails

Get the latest news and stories from the Rubin, plus occasional information on how to support our work.

Discover artworks, articles, and more by typing a search term above, selecting a term below, or exploring common concepts in Himalayan art.