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Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita

Painting
ca. 1112 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Bengal (made)

Folio from an Asthasahasrika Prajnaparamita manuscript, in ink and gouache on palm leaf.

Object details

Categories
Buddhism
Manuscripts
Paintings
Illustration
Religion
Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project
Object type
Painting
TitleAstasahasrika Prajnaparamita (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Painted, ink and gouache on palm leaf
Palm Leaf
Paint
Gouache
Ink
Painted
Brief description
Manuscript, Asthasahasrika Prajnaparamita, palm leaf, painted, Bengal, ca. 1112
Physical description
Folio from an Asthasahasrika Prajnaparamita manuscript, in ink and gouache on palm leaf.
Dimensions
  • Length: 52.7cm
  • Width: 6.3cm
Style
Pala Period
Copy number
Folio 179
Gallery label
(27/9/2013)

BELOW: TWO FEMALE BODHISATTVAS
AND A FEROCIOUS GODDESS
IS.9-1958
Fierce deities protected the Buddhist faith, its
devotees and its sacred objects. Here we see,
left, the female bodhisattva Marici and, right, an
unidentified female divinity dancing on a prostrate
man. In the centre is the female bodhisattva
Vasudhara. The paintings in this manuscript were
not made to illustrate the text but to protect it from
harm and attract blessings.
Originally, the manuscript would have been
bound with cords (through the holes) and
protected by wooden covers.
Object history
Acquired from Mr T Harris, 39 Westmark Point, Roehampton, London SW15, England
Historical context
From the E Vredenburg collection
Bibliographic references
  • E Vredenburg: 'The Continuity of Pictorial Tradition in the Art of India', Rupam No 1, Calcutta, 1920, figure 10 Losty, J P: 'The Art of the Book in India', p32 Losty, J P in Bautze-Picron, C (ed): 'Essays in Honour of James C Harle', New Delhi, 1990, pp 189-200 Bussagli, Mario: 'La Miniatura Indiana', Milan, 1966, plates 1 & 2
  • Barnard, Nick: Arts of Asia, vol. 45, no. 5, September - October 2015, "The Parasol Foundation Trust Programme: digitising and cataloguing the V&A's South Asian collection.", p. 103. no. 13 and 14
  • Swallow, D., Stronge, S., Crill, R., Koezuka, T., editor and translator, "The Art of the Indian Courts. Miniature Painting and Decorative Arts", Victoria & Albert Museum and NHK Kinki Media Plan, 1993. p. 17, cat. no. 1
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.9-1958

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O434116/astasahasrika-prajnaparamita-painting-unknown/
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