Artwork
Text, Folio 56 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra
Text, Folio 56 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1488 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Text, Folio 56 (recto), from a Kalpa‑sutra is a manuscript page rendered as a painting.
- Accession no.
- 1932.119.56.a
- Credit line
- Edward L. Whittemore Fund
About this work
Overview
Text, Folio 56 (recto), from a Kalpa‑sutra is a manuscript page rendered as a painting. The surface is a sheet of paper bearing dense rows of small, hand‑written characters in red and black ink, with a vivid red circle interrupting the text near the centre. Faint red lines frame the margins, and the sheet shows signs of age and slight wear.
Subject & Meaning
The inscription appears to be a passage from a Kalpa‑sutra, a genre of Buddhist literature concerned with ritual rules and monastic discipline. The prominent red circle likely functions as a visual cue, highlighting a key term or doctrinal point within the script.
Technique & Style
The page exemplifies a manuscript tradition that combines calligraphic precision with modest decorative elements. The use of contrasting black and red inks, orderly lineation, and marginal red bands reflects a disciplined scribal practice typical of late medieval to early Renaissance scriptoria, where functional clarity was paired with subtle visual emphasis.
Context
Produced in a period when handwritten religious texts were still the primary means of transmission, this folio illustrates the continuity of Buddhist textual culture alongside contemporary developments in European manuscript production. Its aesthetic aligns with the broader trend of integrating modest illumination within scholarly works before the widespread adoption of printed books.
Artist & collection
