Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting. It dates from 1149 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1986.25.4
- Credit line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. A. Richard Benedek, 1986
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The palm-leaf manuscript depicts a Bodhisattva in a religious Buddhist context, identifiable by iconographic conventions such as the presence of a bodhisattva figure within a devotional setting. The work's religious genre and depiction of a Bodhisattva reflect its function as a visual aid for Buddhist practice and narrative, likely illustrating a specific episode or lineage associated with the figure. The dating to 1149 situates the piece within the medieval period of Indian Buddhist art, emphasizing its role in conveying Buddhist ideals of compassion and enlightenment through representational form.
Technique & Style
Created in 1149 in India, this religious painting features a depiction of a Bodhisattva within the Buddhist tradition.
Created in 1149 in India, this religious painting features a depiction of a Bodhisattva within the Buddhist tradition. The work is executed using ink and color applied directly onto a palm leaf support. As a product of an anonymous artist, the piece represents a specific mode of South Asian manuscript illumination where organic materials serve as the primary ground for pigmented imagery.
The use of palm leaf indicates a portable format typical of the region and period, relying on the natural texture and durability of the dried frond to hold the ink and mineral or vegetable-based colors.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in India around 1149 as an ink and colored pigment painting on a palm leaf, portraying a Bodhisattva within a Buddhist context. Its author is recorded as an anonymous painter. Following its creation, the artwork entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been housed since acquisition.
The dating of 1149 is corroborated by catalog records, and the work's medium and subject matter align with contemporary Indian religious art of the period.
Overview
This untitled painting, rendered in ink and color on a palm leaf, originates from a 12th-century Buddhist manuscript created in India. It depicts a small, delicate figure seated in a tranquil posture, with hands gently positioned. The artwork is characterized by its fine lines and soft color palette, enhanced by intricate surrounding details such as a halo and floral motifs, which contribute to its serene and contemplative quality.
Artist & collection
- Untitled
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Three female figures, folio 89 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
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Seven Leaves from a Manuscript of the Gandavyuha-sutra (Scripture of the Supreme Array)
Prajnaparamita flanked by a white female figure and a white bodhisattva, folio 90 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)