Kanwal Krishna

(Indian, 1910-1993)

Portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama before his enthronement

Footnotes

Provenance
The collection of Sir Basil Gould CBE. CIE.
By direct descent to the current owners.

Exhibited:
Zurich, Völkerkundemuseum, University of Zurich, 'The Dalai Lamas', August 2005.

Bibliography
Gould, B.J., 'The Jewel in the Lotus', pub 1957 Chatto & Windus, London, opp pg.218 (illustrated in black & white).
Brauen, M., The Dalai Lamas, pub 2005 Arnoldsche, Stuttgart, p.232 (illustrated in colour).

The above portrait was painted in Lhasa in early March 1940. It depicts the Dalai Lama as seen by the British Mission when granted an audience on 13th February prior to his enthronement.

Gould recounts the occasion of the audience in his memoire:

"February 13th was fixed for the reception of the British Mission by the Dalai Lama at the Norbhu Lingka...The Hall in which the Dalai Lama grants audiences is a simple room of moderate size, lighted from a central square shaft supported on painted pillars. The courtyard outside was thronged with monks on duty and other monks who had come to receive a blessing.

On entering the audience room it was seen that the Dalai Lama, a solid solemn but very wide awake boy, red cheeked and closely shorn, wrapped warm in the maroon-red robes of a monk and in outer coverings, was seated high on his simple throne, cross-legged in the attitude of Buddha.

After a time...the staff and servants of the British Mission approached the throne in turn. I presented a white silk scarf, a scarf that had been blessed by the Dalai Lama was placed around my neck and two small, cool, firm hands were laid steadily on my head.

And so the audience ended. The Dalai Lama was lifted down from his throne by the Chikyab Khenpo and left the Hall of Audience holding the hands of two Abbots."

The artist Kanwal Krishna also recounted that:

"The first time that I saw the Dalai Lama was when the British went to him for a blessing. His eyes met my eyes...A peculiar thrill went through me."

Gould then goes on to recall that at a children's party held at Dekyi Lingka (the residence of the British mission) a few days after the enthronement the above portrait was noticed by the elder brother of the Dalai Lama, Lobsang Samten Taklhau:

"Among the first to arrive was the family of the Dalai Lama. Kanwal Krishna had recently finished a half-length portrait of the Dalai Lama in oils. The eight-year old brother monk noticed it immediately and, if he is always as openly affectionate to the Dalai Lama as he was to the picture, he must be very fond of him indeed."