Artwork Page for Text, Folio 31 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra

Details / Information for Text, Folio 31 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra

Text, Folio 31 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra

c. 1475–1500

Western India, Gujarat

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Medium
Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Measurements
Overall: 12.5 x 25.7 cm (4 15/16 x 10 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Edward L. Whittemore Fund 1932.119.31.b
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

The large, seated figure in the center of the composition is Indra, king of the gods, who holds in his lap the infant Mahavira, founder of the Jain religion. Indra had taken him to Mount Meru, indicated by the jagged peaks at the bottom of the painting, for his first bath. Two priests flanking them hold vessels for the bath, and the two cows above indicate that the vessels are full of milk. The milk bath washed away all the impurities of the birth.
A horizontally oriented manuscript page features dense black script on cream paper, partitioned by three bold red vertical bands. Three vibrant red circles are spaced across the center, while gold accents highlight the blocky characters. Punctuated by small red marks, the gum tempera and ink calligraphy flows in rhythmic rows across the central section and two narrow side margins, creating a highly structured and decorative textual composition.

Text, Folio 31 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra

c. 1475–1500

Western India, Gujarat

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