Examples of beauty at the court of Seng ge rNam gyal: the style of painting in Ladakh in the 17th and 18th centuries

The temples built in Ladakh during the reign of Seng ge rNam gyal contain beautiful and innovative paintings, realized in an extremely elegant and refined style. The divine images are made with naturalism and the historical figures are characterized by the intention to produce portraits. Similar examples are visible in contemporary thang ka and wall paintings in Tibet. These splendid paintings testify an important new style evolution and, perhaps, represent the golden age of Ladakhi art. The figures are arranged on a green lawn with stylized shrubs, bushes and rocks in the typical style of Tibet, with strong Chinese influence. These details are a new element in Ladakh paintings. The pictorial style which characterizes the paintings analysed herein is strongly influenced by the sMan ris e mKhyen ris pictorial schools. Said influence occurred because of the circulation of thang kas and, therefore, models produced by Tibetan artists, as well as the persistent cultural exchanges which frequently occurred in these regions of Asia.