Artwork
Text, folio 49 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 49 (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
This artwork is a depiction of a single folio (folio 49, verso) from an ancient manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra, a Buddhist scripture. The painting focuses on a long, narrow, light-brown paper with densely written, small, unreadable text in an unrecognized script.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a page from a Prajnaparamita-sutra manuscript, emphasizing the textual representation of Buddhist wisdom. The meaning lies in its role as part of a larger philosophical and religious text, though the specific content of this folio is not discernible.
Technique & Style
The painting style accurately renders the aged appearance of the manuscript page, including its light-brown hue, small text in organized rows, and physical deterioration (holes). The script’s illegibility in the painting mirrors its unintelligibility to non-specialists.
History & Provenance
The artist is unknown. The original manuscript would have originated from a Buddhist cultural context, given the sutra’s significance. However, specific historical or ownership details about this particular painting or the manuscript it depicts are not provided.
Context
This work contextualizes the preservation and veneration of Buddhist scriptures within their tradition. The focus on a single, worn folio may highlight the manuscript’s age, use, and the value placed on such texts.
Legacy
The legacy of this painting is not detailed, as the artist is unknown and the work’s impact or influence is unspecified. It primarily serves as a visual representation of an ancient Buddhist manuscript page.
Artist & collection
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Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Text, folio 49 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 44 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 117 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 43 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 51 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 101 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 8 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 90 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 9 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)