Artwork

Folio 37 from a Gandavyuha-sutra (Scripture of the Supreme Array): Sudhana and a pair of antelopes (recto); text (verso)

Folio 37 from a Gandavyuha-sutra (Scripture of the Supreme Array): Sudhana and a pair of antelopes (recto); text (verso) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1100 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This piece, Folio 37, is a painted wooden panel from a Gandavyuha-sutra, a significant Buddhist scripture.

About this work

History & Provenance

The folio was produced in 1099 in Nepal as part of a Gandavyuha‑sutra manuscript, depicting Sudhana with a pair of antelopes on the recto and text on the verso.

The folio was produced in 1099 in Nepal as part of a Gandavyuha‑sutra manuscript, depicting Sudhana with a pair of antelopes on the recto and text on the verso. It is classified as a religious painting and is attributed to an unknown artist. The leaf entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession 1955.49.5 and displayed in the museum’s South Asian art galleries. Its provenance moves from its original Nepalese context to the museum’s holdings.

The manuscript folio is housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1955.49.5. The work, a painted page from an 11th‑century Gandavyuha‑sutra, entered the museum’s collection in the mid‑20th century and remains part of the institution’s permanent holdings. It is classified as a religious painting within the museum’s Asian art division.

Its provenance traces to Nepal, where it was created circa 1099. No exhibition records are documented in the available sources.

Overview

This piece, Folio 37, is a painted wooden panel from a Gandavyuha-sutra, a significant Buddhist scripture. It functions as a single page, featuring both an illustrative scene and written text. The object's primary purpose was to convey narrative and spiritual teachings through its dual presentation.

The front (recto) displays a small, pictorial element, while the reverse (verso) is dedicated to the scriptural content, reflecting the work's origin as part of a larger manuscript.

Subject & Meaning

The recto of this folio presents a concise scene depicting two antelope-like animals rendered in shades of red and brown. They are positioned facing each other against an unadorned background. This visual element is a small component within the broader context of the Gandavyuha-sutra, which recounts the spiritual journey of Sudhana.

While the specific meaning of this quiet animal encounter is not explicitly detailed, it likely serves as an illustrative moment within the extensive Buddhist narrative, complementing the accompanying text.

Technique & Style

This artwork is characterized by its elongated, narrow form, executed as a painting on a wooden surface. The visual composition on the recto is minimalist, featuring a limited palette of red and brown to depict the animal figures. The reverse side is covered with faded script, indicating its function as a textual folio.

The emphasis on both image and writing highlights a common practice in illuminated manuscripts, where visual art supports and enhances the sacred written word, even when the pictorial element is modest in scale.

Folio 73 from a Gandavyuha-sutra (Scripture of the Supreme Array): Sudhana and an antelope (recto); text (verso)

Artist & collection

Museum

Cleveland Museum of Art

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