Artwork
Kalpa Sutra
Kalpa Sutra is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
Kalpa Sutra is a painted work in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts. The composition centers on a seated figure clothed in a white robe, topped with a yellow headdress and a necklace, flanked by three additional figures also dressed in white. The background is rendered in a vivid purple field filled with intricate decorative motifs, giving the piece a balanced visual rhythm.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, distinguished by the headdress and necklace, suggests a religious or spiritual leader, while the surrounding attendants reinforce a ceremonial context. The use of white robes and the title “Kalpa Sutra” point to a connection with Buddhist textual tradition, indicating that the scene may illustrate a passage from a sacred scripture or an act of teaching.
Technique & Style
The painting employs a limited palette of white, yellow, and deep purple, creating contrast that draws attention to the central figure. Fine detailing in the background patterns demonstrates a careful hand, while the overall composition achieves harmony through symmetrical placement of the attendant figures and balanced distribution of decorative elements.
History & Provenance
Kalpa Sutra is presently owned by the Detroit Institute of Arts, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s holdings of religious art. The work’s acquisition details, date of creation, and prior ownership are not specified in the available information, limiting the known provenance to its current institutional residence.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
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
