Wen Tai

Chinese painters of the Tang dynasty created detailed scenes of Buddhist life and myth. Wen Tai’s brush brought one of these scenes to life in *An Elephant Making an Offering to a Bodhisattva*, a silk scroll where every line tells the story. The artist shows a royal elephant kneeling, tusks crossed, and a lotus rising from its trunk—gifts for a holy figure. Look at how the folds of silk and the elephant’s skin catch the light; every hair and wrinkle is painted. Next, tap the scroll itself to see every delicate stroke up close.