Artwork Page for Manuscript of the Jambudvipa-prajnapti-sutra (Description of Jambudvipa)

Details / Information for Manuscript of the Jambudvipa-prajnapti-sutra (Description of Jambudvipa)

Manuscript of the Jambudvipa-prajnapti-sutra (Description of Jambudvipa)

1513

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Marwar, Mandore

Medium
Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Measurements
Overall: 12.3 x 30.6 cm (4 13/16 x 12 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
On Loan from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection 25.2014
Copyright
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
242B Indian Painting
Print
?

Did You Know?

This text discusses the geography, astronomy, and mathematics of Jambudvipa, one of the terrestrial worlds where human beings live, according to pan-Indian cosmology.

Description

As examples of the dominant artistic style from the early 1500s, these two Jain manuscript illuminations depict two-dimensional scenes using only three colors plus gold, black, and white. They do not illustrate the content of the text. Instead, they show the figure of an enlightened being at the center of concentric circles—an abstract vision of the transmission of his teachings into all directions. Below, an exalted monk passes on the teachings from an elaborate throne, surrounded by adoring followers and auspicious symbols. The images show that the text derives from those teachings. The horizontal format reflects the use of palm leaves for manuscript pages centuries before.
Vertically oriented manuscript page with a central person seated cross-legged, looking at us and surrounded by gold concentric circles broken evenly at four sections by two triangles. Against a solid blue background, orange-red and occasional green pops, with outlines in black or white. Gold outlined in black animal-like creatures fit between the seated person and concentric circles and in the corners of the page. Lines are loosely drawn, with colors bleeding across them.

Manuscript of the Jambudvipa-prajnapti-sutra (Description of Jambudvipa)

1513

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Marwar, Mandore

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.