Vimalanatha, the 13th Jain Tirthankara, an enlightened being

pigment (probably gouache) and gold leaf on paper

circa first half 20th century

Rajasthan, India

39.5 x 29.3 cm (15 9/16 x 11 9/16 in.)

indistinct inscription in Devanagari script above the figure

framed under glass

framed dimensions: 44,8 x 34,4 cm

acquired in Jaipur, India, by Jack Daulton

Publication History of this Painting:

Dyron Daughrity, More Than One: An Introduction to World Religions (Abilene: Abilene Christian University Press, 2022).

Discussion:

This Jain icon depicts one of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras, specifically Vimalanatha, the 13th Tirthankara, who, in Jain iconography, is depicted with golden skin and whose symbol is the boar.  In our painting, a tiny boar can be found below and in front of the meditating Jain saint. This painting was part of a set of 24, and The Daulton Collection contains one other example from the set, "Indian Jain painting 1," above.