Artwork

Text, Folio 34 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra

Text, Folio 34 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra, by Unknown, unspecified, 1488
Text, Folio 34 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra, by Unknown, unspecified, 1488

Text, Folio 34 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1488 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The object is a painted folio, the verso of page 34 from a Kalpa‑sutra manuscript.

About this work

Overview

The object is a painted folio, the verso of page 34 from a Kalpa‑sutra manuscript. It consists of densely set black and red lettering arranged in orderly columns, with occasional pink highlights. Three circular red seals appear on the surface, two positioned near the upper corners and a third on the right side, suggesting administrative or ritual markings.

Subject & Meaning

The text comprises portions of a Kalpa‑sutra, a Buddhist legal and doctrinal compilation that outlines monastic discipline and ceremonial procedures. The presence of highlighted words and seals indicates sections of particular importance, perhaps for recitation, instruction, or verification within a monastic setting.

Technique & Style

The folio is executed on paper using ink in black, red, and pink pigments. The script is rendered in a compact, uniform hand, typical of medieval Indian manuscript production. The red circular stamps are applied with a stamp or seal, a common method for denoting authority or authenticity in religious texts.

History & Provenance

The folio originates from a larger Kalpa‑sutra codex, likely produced in South Asia during the medieval period. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art through acquisition, though specific details of its previous ownership or the date of creation are not recorded in the available documentation.

Context

Kalpa‑sutras formed part of the broader Buddhist canon, serving as practical guides for monastic communities. Manuscripts of this type were often copied by trained scribes in monastic scriptoria, and the inclusion of seals reflects the administrative practices of Buddhist institutions that monitored textual transmission.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.