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 representation of a page from an ancient tantric manuscript known as the Sangrahani Sutra.

About this work

Overview

The work is a painted representation of a page from an ancient tantric manuscript known as the Sangrahani Sutra. Rendered on a light‑brown surface, the page is filled with dense black script and bordered by thin red lines on both margins, suggesting a devotional or ritual text.

Subject & Meaning

The depicted page belongs to a religious corpus associated with tantric practices, indicated by the script’s formal, archaic style and the ornamental red marginal bands, which traditionally mark sacred or instructional passages in such works.

Technique & Style

The artist employed ink on a prepared paper‑like ground, using a monochrome black hand‑lettering technique that imitates historic manuscript calligraphy. Red pigment applied along the edges provides a visual frame, echoing the decorative conventions of early Indian religious codices.

History & Provenance

The painted page is part of the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Its acquisition details are not specified, but the object reflects the museum’s interest in preserving examples of South Asian religious art and manuscript culture.

Context

Tantric sutras such as the Sangrahani were composed and transmitted within monastic and esoteric circles, often copied by hand for ritual use. The artwork captures the aesthetic of these texts, offering insight into the visual language that accompanied spiritual instruction in the region.