Who painted Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra"?

Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra" was painted by Unknown.

Where can I see Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra"?

Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra" is held by Detroit Institute of Arts.

Artwork

Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra"

Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra" is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts. The work is a painted page from the Tantric manuscript known as the Sangrahani Sutra.

About this work

Overview

The work is a painted page from the Tantric manuscript known as the Sangrahani Sutra. Its composition centers on a richly colored border that frames two adjacent blocks of text, each arranged in a regular grid. The page’s visual program combines ornamental figures with dense script, suggesting a devotional or ritual purpose.

Subject & Meaning

Four stylized figures occupy the border, each posed differently and dressed in elaborate headdresses and jewelry. Their presence, together with the bright palette and intricate detailing, points to a religious or spiritual narrative typical of tantric iconography, where such attendants often symbolize protective or instructional roles.

Technique & Style

The painting employs vivid pigments to delineate the border and its figures, while the interior text blocks are rendered in a formal, cursive hand. The contrast between the decorative, figurative border and the orderly script reflects a synthesis of artistic embellishment and scholarly presentation common in manuscript production.

History & Provenance

The page originates from an unidentified period of the Sangrahani Sutra tradition, a corpus of tantric literature. The script used in the text grids remains unknown, and no specific origin or ownership history is recorded in the available documentation.