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 single leaf from an ancient tantric manuscript identified as the Sangrahani Sutra.

About this work

Overview

The work is a single leaf from an ancient tantric manuscript identified as the Sangrahani Sutra. The page is rendered on aged paper that has taken on a yellowish hue, and the surface shows signs of handling and wear. Text is set in an unfamiliar script, organized by thin red lines that demarcate distinct sections of the text.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre of the folio a modest illustration appears, depicting a stylized flower or comparable symbolic motif. The drawing’s delicate, curving lines suggest a ritual or meditative significance typical of tantric visual conventions, where botanical forms often serve as iconographic shorthand for spiritual concepts.

Technique & Style

The illustration is executed with fine ink work, employing precise, flowing strokes that contrast with the surrounding script. The red separators are applied as pigment bands, likely derived from mineral or plant sources, providing a visual hierarchy that aids the reader’s navigation through the sutra’s passages.

History & Provenance

The manuscript fragment originates from a tradition of tantric literature that circulated in South and Central Asian monastic contexts. While the exact provenance of this leaf is not documented, similar sutra pages have been collected by institutions such as the Detroit Institute of Arts, indicating its inclusion in broader scholarly and museum collections.