Artwork
Three female figures, folio 89 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Three female figures, folio 89 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This wooden strip, folio 89 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra), features four small, similarly composed paintings of seated female figures. Each figure is depicted in red and blue robes with hands folded, surrounded by densely packed black text in an ancient script on a plain background.
Subject & Meaning
The calm, identically posed female figures suggest a symbolic or representative role rather than individual portraiture, likely embodying spiritual or philosophical concepts within the Prajnaparamita-sutra, a key Mahayana Buddhist text emphasizing wisdom.
Technique & Style
Characterized by simple outlines, bright color usage, and minimal background detail, the paintings reflect a style prioritizing clarity and solemnity, typical of religious manuscript illustrations from the period. The text, in a tightly arranged old script, dominates the space around the figures.
History & Provenance
Originating from a manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra, this folio's specific historical context (date, region, artist) is not detailed here, though its style and subject matter align with Buddhist artistic traditions of the Indian subcontinent or Southeast Asia.
Context
Part of a larger religious manuscript, this folio would have been used in Buddhist scripture study or ritual, with the images potentially aiding in meditation or illustrating key teachings within the sutra.
Legacy
Now preserved in a museum collection (noted comparison to The Cleveland Museum of Art's holdings), it contributes to the understanding and appreciation of Buddhist manuscript art, offering insights into the religious and artistic practices of its time.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Text, folio 3 (recto), 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)
Prajnaparamita flanked by two bodhisattvas, folio 187 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Prajnaparamita flanked by a white female figure and a white bodhisattva, folio 90 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Decorated Leaf
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita
Prajnaparamita flanked by a white female figure and a white bodhisattva, folio 90 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 10 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Untitled