Puranas & Epics

This illustration depicts the miraculous birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. The infant is shown standing on a lotus blossom, surrounded by a celestial assembly, while nine dragons descend from the clouds to bathe him with heavenly water. This scene captures the traditional narrative of the Buddha's first moments, where he is said to have taken seven steps and proclaimed his spiritual supremacy.

This refined engraving captures a scholar in his study, surrounded by the tools of intellectual inquiry, including a terrestrial globe and volumes of knowledge. The composition emphasizes the humanist ideal of the active, learned life, serving as a testament to the era's reverence for global exploration and scientific discovery.

This vibrant illustration depicts the miraculous birth of Shakyamuni Buddha in the Lumbini garden. Queen Maya is shown reaching for a branch of a tree as the infant Buddha emerges, while celestial musicians celebrate the event from the clouds above. This image is a classic representation of Buddhist hagiography, rendered in a traditional Chinese artistic style for Henri Doré's extensive study on Chinese superstitions.

This refined engraving captures a scholar in a moment of quiet contemplation within his study, surrounded by the tools of his intellectual trade. The meticulous crosshatching and attention to the subject's posture reflect the high standards of 17th-century portraiture, serving as a testament to the era's reverence for humanistic learning.

This intricate engraving illustrates the religious and funerary customs of India as perceived by European observers in the early 16th century. On the left, a pavilion-style temple houses a seated deity surrounded by worshippers, while the right side depicts a dramatic cremation ceremony with figures carrying a litter toward a large pyre. The image serves as a vital historical record of the 'Sonderlinge reysen' (Strange Travels) of Joseph the Indian, reflecting the early modern European fascination with Eastern traditions.

This fine engraving presents a contemplative figure set against a sprawling, atmospheric landscape. The juxtaposition of the individual with the distant urban and natural environment reflects the humanist interest in the relationship between man and the world during the Renaissance.

This intricate engraving portrays a scholar in deep contemplation, surrounded by the tools of early modern scientific inquiry. The presence of the complex mechanical sphere highlights the era's fascination with mapping the heavens and understanding the mathematical order of the universe.

This refined engraving captures a scholar in his study, surrounded by the tools of intellectual inquiry. The presence of the globe and open volumes emphasizes the period's dedication to empirical knowledge and the exploration of the natural world.

This finely executed engraving presents a solitary figure, likely a traveler or scholar, set against a sprawling, atmospheric landscape. The meticulous crosshatching and attention to the subject's attire reflect the technical mastery of the period's printmakers in capturing both human character and environmental depth.