A THANGKA OF GURU DRAGPO, 17TH-18TH CENTURY Tibetan-Chinese 17th to 18th century. Distemper and gold color on cloth. The central figure with three heads, six arms, four feet and outstretched wings holding a vajra, a trident, and other attributes, wearing snakes as bangles and embracing his consort painted in light blue and wearing a tiger-skin dhoti. Both stamping on prostrated figures over a lotus pedestal and in front of a magnificent flaming mandorla, in an attractive landscape with waterfalls, rocks and clouds. At the bottom are further deities. Condition: Extensive wear, abrasions, browning, material loss and discoloration. The brocade torn. Provenance: Luciano Petech (1914-2010), an Italian scholar of Himalayan history and the early relations between Tibet, Nepal and Italy. He was Chair of History of Eastern Asia at the University of Rome from 1955 to 1984. He was a student of the Italian explorer, academic, and scholar Giuseppe Tucci. Professor Luciano Petech has been a pillar in Italy, Europe and the world for the study, protection and promotion of Tibetan language and culture and from 1989 to 1995 was President of the International Association for Tibetan Studies. Dimensions: Size incl. mounting 85 x 49 cm, image size 44 x 31 cm