Artwork

Text, folio 2 (verso) from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri

Text, folio 2 (verso) from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri is an unspecified painting by Pradyumnasuri. It dates from 1290 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work is a 13th‑century manuscript illustration titled “Text, folio 2 (verso) from a Parshvanatha Charitra of Bhavadeva‑suri.

About this work

History & Provenance

The work serves as a religious painting illustrating the life of Lord Parshva, commissioned within the context of Jain manuscript traditions of the region.

Created in 1279 in Gujarat, this folio is part of a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) attributed to the artist Pradyumnasuri. The work serves as a religious painting illustrating the life of Lord Parshva, commissioned within the context of Jain manuscript traditions of the region. It is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1971.125.b.

The verso of the second folio from the Parshvanatha Charitra is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The institution identifies the work under the accession number 1971.125.b. Created in Gujarat in 1279 by the artist Pradyumnasuri, this religious painting serves as a specific example of early Indian manuscript illumination within the museum's holdings. The provided records confirm its location and cataloging details but do not list specific past exhibitions or loan history for this individual folio.

Overview

The work is a 13th‑century manuscript illustration titled “Text, folio 2 (verso) from a Parshvanatha Charitra of Bhavadeva‑suri.” Executed by the painter Pradyumnasuri around 1290, the piece is a small painted scene on a leaf of paper that now resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre of the illustration a seated deity is depicted with a golden aureole, indicating sanctity. Flanking the central figure are several attendants dressed in red robes, suggesting a scene of devotion or instruction linked to the life of Parshvanatha, a revered Jain Tirthankara.

Technique & Style

The image is rendered on aged paper whose margins retain faint red borders. The palette is limited to earthy browns, deep reds and gold, applied with a fine brush that outlines the halo and garments. The surrounding script, rendered in a historic Jain script, frames the visual narrative.