Worshipping Buddha and Bodhisattvas

Worshipping Buddha is a sketch of Tang Dynasty wall murals from Dunhuang by Zhang Daqian. Along with Zhang's inscription on the titleslip that designates this specific piece to the Tang dynasty, careful observation of the figures' features, clothing and distinctive 'fingernails embedded within the fingers', these tell-tale signs not only attest to his influence of his study of the wall paintings at Dunhuang, it also helped date the original back to the Tang dynasty. From Li Lincan's fourteen diagrams depicting Hand Mudras, one can easily see their transitions throughout the periods which Zhang followed assiduously, accentuating his meticulous attention to detail.
This painting was sold to Chan Liu Art Gallery by Zhang Daqian's wife, Xu Wenbo, and was exhibited in 1998. Zhang's sketches of Dunhuang are rare in the market; the original Japanese mounting coupled with two collector's seals by Xu Wenbo also add much value to the painting.