Artwork

Text, Folio 147 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

Text, Folio 147 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Unknown. It dates from 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The work is a painted representation of folio 147, verso, from a manuscript of the *Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines* (the *Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita*). Rendered on a narrow, light‑brown sheet, the image reproduces the page’s text in dense, decorative script, bordered by a slightly darker margin that frames the composition.

Subject & Meaning

The depicted text belongs to a central Mahāyāna Buddhist sutra that expounds the doctrine of emptiness. By reproducing the sutra’s verses, the painting functions both as a visual record of the sacred writing and as an object of devotional contemplation for viewers familiar with the scripture.

Technique & Style

Executed in fine brushwork, the artist rendered each character with meticulous detail, employing delicate flourishes and ornamental strokes typical of manuscript illumination in South‑Asian traditions. The subtle tonal variation between the paper and its border enhances the legibility of the script while emphasizing the page’s materiality.

History & Provenance

The original manuscript from which the image is derived is of uncertain date and origin, and the painter remains unidentified. The work likely served as a portable visual copy for scholarly or religious use, preserving the textual content in a format accessible to those unable to handle the fragile original.

Context

The *Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita* circulated widely across Buddhist centers from India to East Asia, inspiring numerous artistic renditions. This painted folio reflects the broader tradition of integrating textual transmission with visual art, a practice that facilitated the spread of doctrinal teachings alongside aesthetic appreciation.