The Earliest Painting of Ling Gesar?
It has been very difficult to track down the earliest painted images or sculpture of Ling Gesar. 'Epic Literature Gesar' arises relatively early on in Tibetan history however 'Religious Gesar' is a late development with the first few ritual texts appearing in the late 17th century and then a larger promotion by Do Khyentse and Mipam Gyatso in the 19th century. The majority of Gesar art is from the 19th and 20th centuries - possibly all of the art.
The image depicted here is considered by some scholars to be painted by Hor Namkha Gyan an artist of the mid 18th century working in the region of Kangdze, Kham, Tibet. The painting depicts the form known as Gesar Norbu Dradul. There are some stylistic similarities found in paintings also believed to be painted by Hor Namkha Gyan, however a full inventory of Namkha Gyan's known paintings and suspected works have not yet been collected. At this time, this painting is possibly the earliest Gesar composition.