Eleven-Headed, Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva of Compassion (Avalokiteshvara)c. 1500 · Study 1982.147

Context from the museum

One thousand arms surround the central figure like a radiating halo. Each hand has an eye in the palm to see the suffering of all beings, generating the sense of compassion that this figure embodies. The special form of the central image of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara derives from the mystic vision of a nun named Gelongma Palmo, who was born a Kashmiri princess, but prayed for leprosy to avoid having to marry and became an accomplished nun. While meditating in a cave, she achieved this vision of 11-headed, 1,000-armed Avalokiteshvara, who cured her leprosy and guided her on the path to enlightenment.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected overall measurement for Eleven-Headed, Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva of Compassion (Avalokiteshvara) is 69.2 cm wide and 94.6 cm high, equivalent to approximately 27.2 × 37.2 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.73:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.65 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 23.1% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 115.4 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Eleven-Headed, Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva of Compassion (Avalokiteshvara) in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Gum tempera and ink on cotton, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 69.2 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?