Leaf from a Kalpa Sutra (Jain Book of Rituals) 15th century

This 15th-century leaf from a Jain *Kalpa Sutra*, a book of rituals, is a beautiful example of Indian manuscript illumination. The text, written in black ink, is set against a pale background and features a red vertical border. The red circular seals on the left and right edges are characteristic of Jain manuscripts, signifying the completion of a section or chapter. The script used is a cursive *Sharda* script, and the leaf, measuring 4 1/2 x 11 3/8 in. (11.4 x 28.9 cm), is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.