The
earliest forms of Nepal's traditional paintings
were derived from Holy Scriptures out of what is
now India and date back to the eleventh century
AD. The oldest surviving painting of Nepal is of
a vihara which was painted during the transitional
period of 1015. These paintings have developed strict
guidelines as to how they can be created and have
been in place for hundreds of years. When the Lord
Gautam Buddha aged, his disciples worried that over
the years artists would draw his face in many different
ways. In order to assure that his features would
not be distorted one of them measured precisely
the face of the Buddha and wrote them down. He mixed
an exact herbal combination to attain the color
of his skin. Great monks entered caves and meditated
and created paintings that would pass on their feelings,
strengths and wisdom. Today the Tibetan thangkas
and Newari paubhas are among the most appreciated
art styles of this Himalayan nation, generating
a vast local and international market. Learn about
thangkas, paubhas, scriptures, and other painting
forms of Nepal in this section. The history of traditional
paintings, their process, and the lifestyles that
they entail are covered and accompanied by an excellent
collectibles section that explains some of the most
important themes in thangkas and paubhas.
COLLECTIBLES