Artwork
Text, folio 186 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 186 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This folio is one leaf of a larger manuscript comprising 188 double‑sided pages.
About this work
You see a single page from a very old book, filled with neat black writing and a small, colorful painting at the top.
You see a single page from a very old book, filled with neat black writing and a small, colorful painting at the top. The painting shows a group of people sitting under a tree, dressed in bright robes.
This page is from a Buddhist text called the *Perfection of Wisdom*. It was made in 1119 by artists in Nepal, but the book itself was written in India. The bright colors and careful details show how important the words were—this wasn’t just a book, but a sacred object.
To see more like this, look up the subject *eastern india, bihar, vikramashila monastery. painting: nepal, kathmandu*.
Overview
This folio is one leaf of a larger manuscript comprising 188 double‑sided pages. The text is a Buddhist scripture known as the *Perfection of Wisdom* (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra), and the page dates to 1119 CE. It combines black ink calligraphy with a small, vividly coloured illustration positioned at the top of the page.
Subject & Meaning
The miniature depicts a group of figures seated beneath a tree, each dressed in richly coloured robes. The scene reflects a typical Buddhist narrative setting, emphasizing contemplation and the transmission of teachings within a natural, sheltered environment.
Technique & Style
The calligraphic text was produced by a scribe working in a monastery in northeastern India, while the miniature follows the stylistic conventions of Nepalese painting of the early twelfth century. The use of bright pigments and precise detailing demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship applied to what was regarded as a sacred object.
History & Provenance
The manuscript was commissioned by a monk originating from Nepal, linking the Indian monastic centre of production with Nepalese artistic patronage. The collaborative nature of its creation illustrates the cross‑regional exchanges that characterised Buddhist manuscript culture in medieval South Asia.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Text, Folio 38 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 184 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 147 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 106 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 3 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 121 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 110 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 56 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 11 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)