Artwork
Initiation Cards (Tsakalis)
Initiation Cards (Tsakalis) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1416 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1416 by an anonymous painter, the painting presents these sacred figures within a composition that serves as an initiation card.
The work depicts a religious scene featuring a Bodhisattva, the Buddha, and a deity, consistent with its classification as religious art. Created in 1416 by an anonymous painter, the painting presents these sacred figures within a composition that serves as an initiation card. While the specific iconographic arrangement of these divine entities is central to the piece, the sources identify the primary subjects without detailing further symbolic attributes or narrative context.
The artwork functions as a visual representation of these key Buddhist figures, reflecting the spiritual themes typical of the genre during the early 15th century.
Technique & Style
The work is recorded as a painting created in 1416, measuring roughly 16 units in height by 14.5 units in width, and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It belongs to the religious genre and depicts a Bodhisattva, Buddha, and a deity, indicating its devotional function. The sources identify it simply as a painting without detailing the support, pigments, or execution method, and they do not provide information on its current condition.
Consequently, the formal qualities can be described as a composition centered on sacred figures typical of early 15th‑century religious art, while the technical specifics remain unspecified in the documentation.
History & Provenance
The painting known as Initiation Cards (Tsakalis) was created in 1416 by an anonymous artist. Classified as a religious work of art, the piece depicts figures including a Bodhisattva, Buddha, and various deities. Physically, the artwork measures 16 units in height and 14.5 units in width.
Its current provenance places it within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is held and displayed. The work is identified specifically by the title Initiation Cards (Tsakalis) and is categorized under the genre of religious painting. No specific commission details or intermediate ownership records are provided in the available documentation, though the creation date is firmly established as the year 1416.
Initiation Cards (Tsakalis) is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as recorded in its Wikidata entry. The work is catalogued as a religious painting attributed to an anonymous painter, dated to 1416. No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources.
Likewise, the documentation does not include any exhibition history, loans, or prior display venues for the object. The available records establish only the current institutional location and date of inception.
Overview
This artwork, titled "Initiation Cards (Tsakalis)," is a painting composed of numerous small, square images arranged in a grid. Each individual painting features a figure, often with gold skin and dark outlines, set against a red background. The entire collection is presented in neat rows, suggesting a cohesive series rather than individual, disparate pieces. Each small image is framed with black and gold borders, contributing to its distinct yet unified appearance.
Artist & collection
