Untitled

Unidentified

ca. 11th century · Fragment; colors and black ink on paper · Asian Art

This rare and seemingly unprecedented painting in all likelihood represents the earliest surviving illustrated manuscript tradition in the Kashmiri style. Passages of surviving text in both black and red ink on both the recto and verso confirm that it accompanied a manuscript edition of the esoteric Prajnaparamita Sutra. The deity depicted is an early representation of Manjushri, seated in meditative posture and displaying in his raised hand the holy book (pustaka) and in the lower hand, poised over his heart, a stylized blue lotus bud. White lotus adorn ribbons bracketing the head, and white rosettes are tucked beneath a triple-tiered golden diadem. He is further adorned with golden jewelry and a white (pearl?) necklace and garland. He is seated on a lotus cushion, a cusped nimbus frames his head and the entire figure is set in a cusped mandorla, edged in yellow.

Artist

Unidentified

Date

ca. 11th century

Medium

Fragment; colors and black ink on paper

Culture

Ancient Kingdom of Kashmir, India

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Chino Franco Roncoroni, in celebration of the Museum’s 150th Anniversary, 2020