Artwork
Text, Folio 14 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 14 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This artifact is a narrow parchment leaf, designated as Folio 14 (recto) from a manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra, a Buddhist text known as the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines. The page features three blocks of densely set text rendered in a uniform, miniature script, with the parchment’s light brown hue and irregular upper edge evident.
Subject & Meaning
The inscribed verses belong to the Prajnaparamita corpus, a foundational collection of Mahayana teachings that articulate the concept of emptiness and the path to enlightenment. The compact arrangement reflects the sutra’s extensive doctrinal content, aiming to preserve a comprehensive exposition within limited material.
Technique & Style
The script is executed in a fine, consistent hand, characterized by minute flourishes and decorative elements that enhance legibility while occupying minimal space. The parchment’s preparation shows a rough, uneven edge, typical of early manuscript production, and the ink appears uniformly applied, indicating skilled calligraphic practice.
History & Provenance
The folio originates from a larger codex of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita, likely produced in a monastic setting where such texts were copied for ritual and scholarly use. The manuscript eventually entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is conserved as part of their Asian art holdings.
Context
Manuscripts of the Prajnaparamita were widely circulated across Central and East Asia from the early centuries of the Common Era, often serving as teaching tools for Buddhist scholars. The dense script and compact layout reflect a practical response to the high cost of parchment and the desire to compile extensive doctrinal material in a portable form.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Text, Folio 14 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 156 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 8 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 22 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 13 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 178 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 142 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 172 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)