Buying art online is harder than in a shop, so for a thangka it pays to ask a few questions before ordering.

Ask for close-up photos of the face and hands. Fine brushwork and slightly raised gold should be visible. Ask if it is fully hand-painted or a print with some hand touch-ups, and what pigments were used. Check the exact canvas size without the mounting, and whether it ships rolled in a tube, which is the safe way. It is also worth asking about the artist or workshop and whether a certificate of authenticity is included.

A good seller will answer all of this happily. One place that already lists most of these details on each item is Buy authentic thangka painting, run with painters in Nepal.