The Three Objects (art work)

The Three Objects

The Three Objects is a work of calligraphy by A. T. Bondy illuminating the Objects of the Theosophical Society. Donated to the Theosophical Society in America by the artist in 1944, it hangs in a prominent location in the headquarters building.

Wording

The wording of the piece is:

1. To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or color.

2. To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science.

3. To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man.

This is the wording used by the Theosophical Society in America and its parent society based in Adyar, Chennai, India.

For history of the objects and variations in other branches of the Theosophical Movement, see Objects of the Theosophical Society.

History and technique of the art

Gerald Moscato, himself an expert in the art of illumination, wrote about the process Bondy used:

The piece took Bondy approximately five years to complete in conjunction with his full-time job at the Scriptorium Studio. The illuminating detail was first done in pencil on separate tracing paper. This procedure allowed him to dust charcoal on the tracing in order to transfer the drawing to the parchment where the ink and colors were meticulously applied. Small sections of the illuminating were done at a time until the entire piece was completed.