Artwork

Text, Folio 4 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra

Text, Folio 4 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra, by Unknown, unspecified, 1488
Text, Folio 4 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra, by Unknown, unspecified, 1488

Text, Folio 4 (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.

About this work

Overview

The work titled “Text, Folio 4 (verso), from a Kalpa‑sutra” is a painted page that presents a block of script in black ink, punctuated by red decorative elements. The composition fills the entire surface, creating a dense, text‑driven visual field.

Subject & Meaning

The page contains an excerpt from a Kalpa‑sutra, a type of Buddhist scripture, though the specific language of the script remains unidentified. The inclusion of four red circles flanking the text may serve as visual markers or ritual symbols within the manuscript tradition.

Technique & Style

Executed with brush or pen, the black ink forms tightly packed characters across the folio, while the red accents are applied in a contrasting hue to highlight particular points. The overall palette is limited to monochrome with selective color, emphasizing the formal qualities of the script.

History & Provenance

The folio is part of a larger manuscript collection, but details about its origin, date, or previous ownership are not provided in the available description.

Context

Kalpa‑sutras are part of the broader corpus of Buddhist literature that outlines monastic rules and doctrinal matters. Such illuminated pages were traditionally produced for religious study and ceremonial use, reflecting the interplay of textual transmission and visual ornamentation.

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.