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King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala Sit Alone to Discuss Her Dreams, Folio 24 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
King Siddhartha is depicted on this page with his wife, Trishala, who had a series of auspicious dreams associated with her pregnancy. Her child Mahavira would grow up to become the historical founder of the Jain religion in the 500s BC. The royal couple is resplendently enthroned and bedecked in jewelry. Queen Trishala’s bodice was painted with a green pigment made from copper and vinegar; its high acid content caused the paper itself to disintegrate. The lavish use of gold and lapis lazuli indicates that it was a costly production.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineKing Siddhartha and Queen Trishala Sit Alone to Discuss Her Dreams, Folio 24 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra, c. 1475–1500. Western India, Gujarat, last quarter of the 15th century. Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; overall: 12.5 x 25.7 cm (4 15/16 x 10 1/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Edward L. Whittemore Fund, 1932.119.24.a
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