The Magic of Composition in Tibetan paintings
By the time the painter sat down to begin the sketch he already had in mind the main contents and design of the thangka. Usually, the patron had indicated to the painter precisely which deities he wanted to be depicted.
Sometimes the patron also furnished a diagram that showe the names and relative positions of each figure in the painting, such diagrams often having been composed by the lama of the patron.
When the patron provided .