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Jain Narrative Relief Panel

Asian Art

On View: Asian Galleries, Arts of South Asia, 2nd floor

Recent research has identified some of the figures in this relief as monks of a specific sect of Jainism, an ascetic religion that developed contemporaneously with Buddhism. The monks can be identified by their nudity, symbolizing their renunciation of all materialistic pursuits, and by the strip of pleated cloth that they wear over their left forearm. In its original context, this fragment would have formed part of an elaborately carved gateway leading to a temple of other sacred space.

MEDIUM Sandstone
  • Place Made: Mathura, India
  • DATES mid 2nd century B.C.E.–1st century C.E.
    PERIOD Pre-Kushan Period
    DIMENSIONS 7 1/4 x 24 1/4 in. (18.4 x 61.6 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 87.188.5
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Georgia and Michael de Havenon
    PROVENANCE Prior to 1985, provenance not yet documented; 1985, purchased from an unidentified dealer by Michael and Georgia de Havenon of New York, NY; 1987, gift of Michael and Georgia de Havenon to the Brooklyn Museum.
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    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Asian Galleries, Arts of South Asia, 2nd floor
    CAPTION Jain Narrative Relief Panel, mid 2nd century B.C.E.–1st century C.E. Sandstone, 7 1/4 x 24 1/4 in. (18.4 x 61.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Georgia and Michael de Havenon, 87.188.5. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 87.188.5_bw.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 87.188.5_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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     <em>Jain Narrative Relief Panel</em>, mid 2nd century B.C.E.–1st century C.E. Sandstone, 7 1/4 x 24 1/4 in.  (18.4 x 61.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Georgia and Michael de Havenon, 87.188.5. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 87.188.5_bw.jpg)