THREE COSMIC DIAGRAMS

Estimated Value:

900 € - 1.500 €

Schätzpreis:

Description:

Gujerat or Rajasthan, 18th c. and later
25,5 x 11,2/25,5 x15,5/ 25,5 x 11,7 cm
I: The outline and shape of the cosmos are easily recognisable through the structure of a pattern of differently coloured squares and are complemented by measurements on the sides. Particularly highlighted is the vertically running tunnel that extends from the neck of the cosmic man to his ankles and which is traversed by the souls as they ascend or descend to their next existence as a human, god or hell being. The middle world inhabited by humans and animals is roughly indicated in this representation by an oval yellow area in the hip region of the lokapuruṣa. The face is adorned with small shrines symbolic of the heavenly kings of the gods. II: The planes of the heavens and hells marked by yellow paint application are well recognisable, the disc-shaped middle world was not drawn in the schematic representation of the structure of the cosmos. The face and limbs impress with particularly careful brushwork. The lower half of the cosmic man's face is decorated with a group of seated celestial kings. On the forehead a reclining white crescent moon marks the abode of the redeemed Jinas (siddhaloka), the motif is repeated in enlarged form above the head III: The depiction of the cosmic man combines various styles of Indian painting and is oriented towards the iconography of the Jain cosmos, but shows a clearly altered structure of the heavens and hells. In the hip region of the lokapuruṣa is placed the disc-shaped middle world inhabited by humans and animals. Two male persons seated below resemble celestial kings rather than hell beings. Below these persons, whose depiction the artist has stylistically oriented on Sultanate painting, are pictogram-like symbolisms of the torments inflicted on souls in this place. The upper section of the picture surface bears fleetingly drawn floral decoration as well as a reclining crescent moon as a symbol of the place where the redeemed souls are staying.
From an important private collection in northern Germany, collected mainly in India from the early 1950s until the 1980s

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