Artwork

Rishabha enthroned, folio 1 (verso) from a Yoga-shastra of Hemachandra

Rishabha enthroned, folio 1 (verso) from a Yoga-shastra of Hemachandra is an unspecified painting by the Yōga artist Hemachandra. It dates from 1275 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a piece of religious art, the image functions to honor the figure of Rishabha and support the devotional or meditative practices associated with the text.

The work depicts Rishabha, the first Tirthankara, enthroned within a religious context derived from a Yoga-shastra of Hemachandra. Created in 1275 in Gujarat, this folio serves as a visual component of the Jain textual tradition, illustrating the supreme spiritual teacher in a state of royal or divine repose. As a piece of religious art, the image functions to honor the figure of Rishabha and support the devotional or meditative practices associated with the text. The enthronement signifies his elevated status and spiritual authority within the Jain cosmology.

History & Provenance

Created in 1275 in Gujarat, this religious painting depicts Rishabha enthroned and serves as the verso of the first folio from a Yoga-shastra attributed to Hemachandra. The work was produced under the artistic direction or authorship of Hemachandra during the late thirteenth century. In the modern era, the manuscript folio entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1971.128. The museum currently maintains ownership and houses the piece within its holdings of Indian religious art.

Legacy

Rishabha enthroned, folio 1 (verso) from a Yoga‑shastra of Hemachandra, created circa 1275 in Gujarat, is preserved in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where its inclusion in the museum’s Indian religious art holdings has elevated its scholarly profile. As a 13th‑century Jain painting, it exemplifies the visual language of Hemachandra’s theological texts and continues to be referenced in studies of medieval Indian manuscript illumination. The work’s presence in a major public collection has reinforced its reputation as an important artifact for understanding the development of Jain artistic conventions, influencing subsequent generations of Jain painters and informing contemporary exhibitions on Indian religious art.

Overview

This religious painting, titled Rishabha enthroned, folio 1 (verso) from a Yoga-shastra of Hemachandra, was created by Hemachandra in 1275. It represents an early example of illustrated manuscript art from the period. Currently, this significant historical artifact is preserved within the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art, offering insight into medieval Indian religious and artistic practices.

Technique & Style

Executed on a narrow strip of aged paper, this folio combines intricate script with painted imagery. The background exhibits a faded, parchment-like hue, characteristic of ancient manuscripts. The text, rendered in precise black ink, employs an old Indian writing system, while the depiction of Rishabha would have been an integral part of the folio's overall design. Physical signs of age, such as circular stains and a small hole, attest to its long history.