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Folio 2 from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri: Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience (recto); Text (verso)

Pradyumnasuri , 1290

Folio 2 from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri: Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience (recto); Text (verso), by Pradyumnasuri, unspecified, 1290
Folio 2 from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri: Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience (recto); Text (verso), by Pradyumnasuri, unspecified, 1290

Folio 2 from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri: Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience (recto); Text (verso) is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Pradyumnasuri. It dates from 1290 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The recto portrays a Jain monk preaching to a disciple accompanied by a lay audience, representing the transmission of religious doctrine within the community.

This 1279 painting by Pradyumnasuri depicts a scene from the Parshvanatha Charitra, illustrating the life and stories of Lord Parshva. The recto portrays a Jain monk preaching to a disciple accompanied by a lay audience, representing the transmission of religious doctrine within the community. As a work of religious art originating in Gujarat, the image serves as a visual narrative device for the text found on the verso, emphasizing the spiritual authority of the monk and the engagement of the laity in Jain teachings.

Technique & Style

The folio is a painted illustration from a 13th‑century Jain manuscript. It is classified as a painting and was executed in 1279 in Gujarat, India. The work depicts a monk preaching to a disciple before a lay audience on the recto side, with accompanying text on the verso.

As part of the Parshvanatha Charitra, the image follows the visual conventions of Jain religious art from the period, employing line work and flat color typical of contemporary manuscript illumination. The piece is now housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is preserved as a paper support within the museum’s collection.

History & Provenance

The folio is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is recorded under the accession number 1971.125. It was produced in Gujarat in 1279 by Pradyumnasuri, and the museum's records associate it with the religious genre of painting. No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.

Overview

This painting, titled Folio 2 from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri, is a leaf from a Jain manuscript created by Pradyumnasuri in 1290. It features an illustrated scene on its recto side and text on its verso. The artwork is currently housed in The Cleveland Museum of Art, representing a historical example of religious manuscript illumination.

Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience, folio 2 (recto) from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri
Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience, folio 2 (recto) from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri, Pradyumnasuri

Artist & collection

Artist

Pradyumnasuri

This Jain monk from the 13th century spent his days copying sacred stories onto paper-thin palm leaves in a quiet temple near Mount Abu.

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Folio 2 from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri: Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience (recto); Text (verso)?

Folio 2 from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri: Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience (recto); Text (verso) was painted by Pradyumnasuri in 1279-01-01.

Where can I see Folio 2 from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri: Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience (recto); Text (verso)?

Folio 2 from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri: Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience (recto); Text (verso) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Folio 2 from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri: Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience (recto); Text (verso)?

Folio 2 from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri: Monk preaching to a disciple with a lay audience (recto); Text (verso) is associated with Mughal Painting.