Vessantara calls his children from hiding to give them to Jujaka, a scene from the next-to-last life of the Buddha (Vessantara Jataka)
Matted: H. 28 in × W. 22 in (71.1 cm × 55.9 cm)
Complete sets of the standard thirteen paintings for the recitation of the story of Prince Vessantara are extremely rare. Once a set of paintings was used in a recitation it might not have been used again, and no particular provision may have been made to preserve it. The number of single paintings or small groups of paintings surviving from sets suggests that sets were often broken up and dispersed.
This set [2006.27.80.1-.13] probably about 120 years old, remains in fair condition. Most details of the paintings, though scratched and abraded, can still be made out, but the inscriptions along the bottom edges have suffered considerable damage and are now only partly legible.
Just as the recitation of the "Great Life" was sometimes accompanied by sound effects and naughty side-stories, in this set of paintings the artist enlivens the main story with bawdy vignettes, monkeyshines, and amusing anachronisms. The artist's interest in some aspects of classical Western landscape painting is also apparent.
[2006.27.80.8] Chapter 8
Jujaka finds Prince Vessantara and, while Vessantara's wife is out gathering fruits and nuts, asks for the children. Vessantara gives them up. Jujaka drags them away. The children manage to escape and hide, but Vessantara finds them and turns them over to Jujaka again. Jujaka beats them for escaping, and Vessantara is distressed at his children's suffering. At the same time he reminds himself that to attain buddhahood he must practice selfless giving without limit.
While Jujaka prepares himself some betel (a mixture of areca nut, betel leaf, and other ingredients for chewing), Vessantara calls the children from their hiding places. For some reason we are shown that his hermitage is equipped with an elaborate mast for signal flags.
