A Library of Manuscripts from India

This collection showcases illustrated manuscripts from the Indian subcontinent, revealing rich cultural narratives and religious traditions, as seen in A Library of Manuscripts from India.

This captivating collection presents a visual exploration of illustrated manuscripts that span great epics, passionate romances, and vivid cautionary tales from the Indian subcontinent, dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries. A Library of Manuscripts from India showcases the rich tapestry of languages, religious traditions, and artistic schools that have flourished in this region, bringing together an exceptional array of manuscripts that reflect the diverse cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent. The collection includes religious and philosophical texts from various faiths, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism, highlighting the interconnectedness and mutual influence of these traditions throughout history.

The manuscripts range from palm leaf texts of the South to pothi format manuals from the Himalayan region of Nepal, culminating in the highly sophisticated illustrated works produced during the Imperial Mughal court. A Library of Manuscripts from India invites readers to embark on a visual journey through these remarkable narratives, featuring significant pieces such as a lavishly illustrated palm-leaf manuscript by Upendra Bhanja, often referred to as the 'Emperor of Poets,' and a rare copy of the Bihar-I Danesh, which exemplifies the finest craftsmanship of its time.

Additionally, the collection includes an extraordinary album of 18th-century Indian paintings that provide insight into the allure of Indian courtly life for European nobility. The presentation of painted scrolls, which have a long-standing tradition in India, serves to enrich the storytelling experience, as these scrolls were historically used by traveling performers to narrate well-known tales accompanied by music. Among these scrolls is a vibrant 15-meter-long depiction of the Madel Puranamu, commissioned by a member of the dhobi caste to honor his community's origins and reverence for Shiva.