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Sudhana and a parrot, folio 20 (recto) from a Gandavyuha-sutra (Scripture of the Supreme Array)

Unknown

1104

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Medieval Religious Nepal

Dominant colour

Sudhana and a parrot, folio 20 (recto) from a Gandavyuha-sutra (Scripture of the Supreme Array) is a 1104 unspecified by Unknown, depicting Nepal, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1104
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

A young man in a red robe stands under a tree, talking to a bright green parrot. The background is flat and golden, with no shadows. This painting is from a Buddhist storybook made over 900 years ago in Nepal. The artist drew the man’s eye bigger than the other to show depth—a trick common at the time. The parrot isn’t just decoration; it’s part of the tale, guiding the traveler on his journey. To see more art like this, look up *nepal*.

The story of this work

Overview

On his quest to find teachers to guide him to enlightenment, the pilgrim Sudhana traveled alone through the wilderness. The tree and parrot indicate the forests of southern India. Graceful lines and vibrant color contribute to the enduring visual appeal of the paintings of this manuscript. In a stylistic convention of the time, the artist extended the "farther eye" beyond the contours of the face.