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 titled “Sangrahani Sutra” is a painted manuscript illustration depicting a domestic interior populated by five figures.

About this work

Overview

The work titled “Sangrahani Sutra” is a painted manuscript illustration depicting a domestic interior populated by five figures.

The work titled “Sangrahani Sutra” is a painted manuscript illustration depicting a domestic interior populated by five figures. Central to the composition is a man in a vivid red garment seated on a pink‑hued couch, flanked by four women who hold assorted accessories such as a bead string and a fan. The scene is framed in gold and set against a red background with a contrasting blue panel behind the central figure.

Subject & Meaning

The gathering likely illustrates a narrative from a tantric text, where the male figure may represent a guru or deity and the surrounding women could be attendants or symbolic embodiments of spiritual qualities. The objects they bear—beads, fans—are traditional motifs associated with ritual practice and the transmission of esoteric knowledge.

Technique & Style

Executed in miniature painting technique, the image employs bright, saturated pigments and intricate decorative patterns on clothing and furnishings. Gold leaf outlines the central tableau, enhancing the visual hierarchy. The composition balances flat areas of color with detailed linear rendering, characteristic of South Asian manuscript art that emphasizes ornamental richness.

History & Provenance

The manuscript is identified as a tantric text, suggesting it originated within a religious or monastic context. Its precise date and place of production are not recorded in the supplied information, but the use of vivid pigments and gold framing aligns with manuscript traditions flourishing in the early modern period of the Indian subcontinent.

Context

Tantric manuscripts often combined instructional verses with illustrative scenes that served as visual exegesis. In this tradition, the depicted gathering would function as a didactic aid, reinforcing the textual content of the Sangrahani Sutra through symbolic representation of ritual participants and their implements.