Artwork

Text, Folio 73 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra

Text, Folio 73 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra, by Unknown, unspecified, 1488
Text, Folio 73 (verso), from a Kalpa-sutra, by Unknown, unspecified, 1488

Text, Folio 73 (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 single folio, the verso of page 73, from a Kalpa‑sutra manuscript.

About this work

Overview

The object is a single folio, the verso of page 73, from a Kalpa‑sutra manuscript. The sheet measures roughly the size of a typical hand‑written codex page and is composed of aged, brown‑toned paper that shows signs of wear, including minor tears and stains along its edges.

Subject & Meaning

The page contains densely set script in a small hand, characteristic of traditional Buddhist textual transmission. Certain passages are emphasized with red ink, a common practice for highlighting doctrinal or procedural points within the Kalpa‑sutra, a collection of rules governing monastic discipline.

Technique & Style

The manuscript employs black ink for the main body of text, while red pigment—applied with a separate brush—marks key terms. Two circular red seals, one positioned near the upper left margin and another centrally, are impressed onto the paper, indicating official validation or ownership in the tradition of South‑Asian scriptoria.

History & Provenance

The folio originates from a larger religious codex, likely produced in a monastic workshop. The presence of the seals suggests it passed through institutional hands, possibly a monastery or a collector, before entering the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, where it is displayed among comparable manuscript materials.

Context

Kalpa‑sutras form part of the Vinaya literature, outlining the procedural rules for Buddhist monastic life. Manuscripts of this type were traditionally copied by hand in scriptoria, with red markings used to draw attention to critical regulations, reflecting the pedagogical methods of the period.

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.