Sacred visions : early paintings from Central Tibet ; [publ. in conjunction with the Exhibition Sacred Visions: Early Paintings from Central Tibet, held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Oct. 6, 1998 - Jan. 17, 1999

Devoted to a period of extraordinary cultural achievement - from the 11th to the mid-15th century - when Tibet became known as the Buddhist holy land - this book accompanies a major touring show opening at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art in October 1998. It includes a collection of exquisite "thankas" (paintings) that incorporated traditions from eastern India, Nepal and China as well as the Tibetans' own Buddhist imagery. Though Tibet was closed to the West until the early-20th century, many thankas have survived in Western collections and these have been brought together on exhibition for the first time. The book also features scholarly essays that provide historical, stylistic and technical information. Accompanying An Exhibition To Be Held In New York During Late Fall Of 1998, Sacred Visions Is A Superbly Illustrated Volume Of Art Works From The 11th To The Mid-15th Centuries Which Includes Scholarly Essays That Relate To The Paintings To Be Displayed. The Cultural Roots Of Early Central Tibetan Painting / Jane Casey Singer -- The Development Of Style In Early Central Tibetan Painting / Steven M. Kossak -- Catalogue -- Realizations: Reflections On Technique In Early Central Tibetan Painting / Robert Bruce-gardner. Steven M. Kossak, Jane Casey Singer ; With An Essay By Robert Bruce-gardner. Catalog Of An Exhibition Held At The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, Oct. 6, 1998-jan. 17, 1999. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 213-218) And Index. "Sacred Visions: Early Paintings from Central Tibet is the catalogue of a landmark exhibition of more than sixty of the finest extant Tibetan works from museums and private collections around the world. Closed to the West until the early twentieth century, Tibet was abruptly closed again in the 1950s by the Chinese. In spite of the loss of much of the staggering wealth of Tibetan monasteries and other monuments since that time, a number of masterpieces have survived in Western collections." "Steven M. Kossak and Jane Casey Singer discuss the individual works in regard to their style, iconography, provenance, and date."--BOOK JACKET