This cotton scroll was likely printed in India and made by inking a wood block that was pressed directly on the fabric. The rich iconography and stylistic variations demonstrate the dynamic and cosmopolitan approach to art within the Indian subcontinent. Possibly displayed during temple celebrations, the work depicts a row of stupas, or dome-shaped shrines. Each one is framed by garlands, and rests on a lotus pedestal that contains a buddha flanked by two monks, while on both sides winged angels ride on clouds.
These soaring figures resemble the Indio-Iranian beings seen in Indian Mughal miniatures, reflecting a time when Indian and Persian artisans collaborated on court paintings. The shrine roof over the buddhas indicate Indian influence, while the domed structures resemble a sacred Nepalese site called the Svayambhunath stupa. Evident oil stains and the frayed edges of the fabric suggest the hanging’s usage within a temple, where it would have been exposed to the elements.
Details
- Title: Hanging with Nepali Stupas
- Date: c. 1800
- Medium: Block-printed cotton
- Dimensions: 36-1/2 x 171-1/2 in. (92.7 x 435.6 cm.)
- Credit Line: Norton Simon Museum, Gift of Suzy Lebasi
- Accession Number: P.2000.03
- Copyright: © Norton Simon Museum
Object Information
- Pal, Pratapaditya, Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum, Volume 2: Art from the Himalayas & China, 2003, no. 147 pp. 220-221
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