Artwork

Text, Folio 42 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra

Text, Folio 42 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra, by Unknown, unspecified, 1488
Text, Folio 42 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra, by Unknown, unspecified, 1488

Text, Folio 42 (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. This artwork is a verso page (Folio 42) from a Kalpa-sutra, an ancient religious text.

About this work

Overview

This artwork is a verso page (Folio 42) from a Kalpa-sutra, an ancient religious text. The page features black ink text with red accents and decorations on a yellowed, worn parchment, indicating age and use.

Subject & Meaning

The subject matter pertains to religious or philosophical content, typical of Kalpa-sutras, which are Jain texts containing cosmological and philosophical discussions. The red circle and other decorations may hold symbolic meaning within the Jain tradition.

Technique & Style

The text is rendered in a script resembling Sanskrit, written in black ink with selective red highlights, possibly for emphasis or to denote importance. Decorative borders and markings (e.g., red dots above/below lines) suggest a traditional, possibly medieval South Asian aesthetic.

History & Provenance

Despite the initial note suggesting a Renaissance period appearance, the script and content more accurately place its origins in medieval India or South Asia, given the Jain text and Sanskrit script. Exact dating and provenance are not specified.

Context

Kalpa-sutras were significant in Jainism for their detailed accounts of the universe and the path to liberation. This page, with its religious text and symbolic decorations, would have been part of a larger manuscript used for study or ritual purposes within a Jain community.

Legacy

As part of a Kalpa-sutra, this page contributes to the preservation of Jain philosophical and cosmological thought. Its survival, despite visible wear, underscores the importance of preserving ancient religious manuscripts for historical and cultural insight.

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.