One of a Pair of Manuscript Covers from the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra)
c. 17th century
Medium
Pigments and metallic paint on wood
Dimensions
10.2 × 41.1 × 1.4 cm (4 × 16 3/16 × 9/16 in.)
Classification
painting
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
184668
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This pair of horizontal Buddhist book covers features the goddess of wisdom, Prajnaparamita. At the top she presides in her four-armed golden Nepalese form flanked by male and female devotees; on the bottom she is depicted to the left of the Buddha. Representing dharma (the teachings of the Buddha), she is recognizable by the rosary and book she holds in her upper hands; her lower hands form the gesture of teaching (vitarka mudra). In the lower book cover the three figures symbolize the three je...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...