Collection Online as of March 31, 2023

Folio 1, from a Great Poem about Twos (Dvyashraya Mahakavya) of Hemachandra with Commentary by Abhayatilaka

1428

Western India, Gujarat, possibly Patan

Gum tempera and ink on palm leaf

Part 2: 5.7 x 47 cm (2 1/4 x 18 1/2 in.); Part 1: 5.7 x 45.7 cm (2 1/4 x 18 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1971.130

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

Hemachandra was a celebrated poet, historian, grammarian, philosopher, and theologian of medieval India.

Description

The first two folios of this manuscript commentary have adjoining paintings: the first is the green image of Parshva, a liberated being known as a Jina, and the second depicts the author of the text, Hemachandra (1088–1173), as a monk with his royal patron Kumarapala (reigned 1143–1172). The text of this manuscript illustrates grammatical points of both Sanskrit and Prakrit—a living language derived from Sanskrit—with examples of the wondrous deeds of his kings.

Provenance

?-1971

(Sander L. Feldman, Washington, DC, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)

1971-

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Exhibition history

Main Gallery Rotation (gallery 245). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (April 28-November 2, 2015). (1971.130.1 only)

Indian Gallery 242b Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (November 7, 2016-April 10, 2017). (1971.130.2 only)

Animal Fables of India (Indian art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 12-August 29, 2021). (1971.130.1 only)

Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 1, 2021-February 13, 2022). (1971.130.2 only)