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 presents a single leaf from an ancient manuscript, rendered as a painted representation.
About this work
Overview
The work presents a single leaf from an ancient manuscript, rendered as a painted representation. The surface bears a yellowed, golden hue that suggests considerable age, while the layout of the script is organized into tidy rows separated by thin red bands. Small ornamental strokes embellish several characters, contributing to an overall sense of refined execution.
Subject & Meaning
The page contains text written in a script resembling Sanskrit, a language historically employed for religious and philosophical treatises. Although the specific content is not identified here, the presence of the title “Sangrahani Sutra” indicates a connection to tantric literature, which often explores esoteric practices and doctrinal compilations.
Technique & Style
The artist employed pigment on a paper-like support, using a limited palette of earth tones for the background and vivid red for the dividing lines. Fine brushwork creates the intricate flourishes that adorn the script, while the overall composition balances clarity of the textual rows with decorative detail, reflecting traditional manuscript illumination methods.
History & Provenance
The piece is documented as part of a collection that includes comparable manuscripts held by institutions such as the Detroit Institute of Arts. Its aged appearance, including frayed edges and surface wear, points to a long period of handling, suggesting it originated from a historical archive before entering a modern curatorial context.
Artist & collection
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Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"
Tantric Manuscript, "Sangrahani Sutra"