Painting study · Ink painting
Birth of Mahavira, folio 40 (verso) from a Kalpa-sutrac. 1400 · Study 1976.27.b
Artist not recorded
c. 1400
Recorded as gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper, this horizontal work measures 28.4 × 9.4 cm using the museum’s overall dimensions. Explore the museum’s context and compare the format with a wall of your choice.
Museum collection reference. This work is not offered for sale by Physical Art For Crypto. Museum attribution does not imply a partnership or endorsement.
Context from the museum
A queen and her golden newborn lie on a swing, gazing at one another as two attendants hold fly whisks to honor them. The infant is Mahavira, founder of the Jain religion, who lived during the 500s BC in northern India. Though palm leaf was preferred for sacred texts, Jain communities transitioned to the more readily available material of paper during the 1300s. A hole in the central red dot was made for a binding string. The margin notes beginning with the “=” sign are comments explaining the text.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
A detail to notice
Under the swing bed is a box decorated with two geese, filled with paan (betel nut, lime, and spices wrapped in betel leaf).
Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected overall measurement for Birth of Mahavira, folio 40 (verso) from a Kalpa-sutra is 28.4 cm wide and 9.4 cm high, equivalent to approximately 11.2 × 3.7 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 3.02:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.03 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.
On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 9.5% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 135.8 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.
Questions to bring to your own collection
With Birth of Mahavira, folio 40 (verso) from a Kalpa-sutra in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.
- Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 28.4 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
- What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?
Explore physical scale
How large would this format feel on your wall?
Use this museum work’s recorded format as a reference. Adjust a blank wall and optional frame allowance to compare proportions. The museum painting is an educational reference and is not for sale here.
Calculation: outside width = recorded width + twice your frame allowance. This is a proportion study, not an installation assessment. It excludes furniture, hardware, load capacity, depth and delivery clearance. The display image may include margins absent from the recorded measurement.
Compare formats with the studio collection
These Lei-Kol works have the closest width-to-height ratios in the current catalog. This is a geometry comparison, not a claim of artistic similarity, equivalent value, or association with the museum artist.
| Painting | Width × height | Format ratio | USD catalog price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bipolar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Brick and Mortar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Dominion | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
Related studies
c. 1475–1500 · Western India, Gujarat
Kalpa-sutra manuscript with 24 illuminations
Artist not recorded · Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
c. 1475–1500 · Western India, Gujarat
Text, Folio 54 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra
Artist not recorded · Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
c. 1475–1500 · Western India, Gujarat
Queen Trishala's Grief and Happiness, Folio 29 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra
Artist not recorded · Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
c. 1475–1500 · Western India, Gujarat
Ritual Bath of Mahavira, Folio 31 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra
Artist not recorded · Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Ready to describe what you want in your own space?
Start an artwork inquiry ↗