- Museum number
- 2007,3014.2
- Description
-
Story-telling painting, in gouache, of the 'Paithan' type, illustrating a narrative from the Mahabharata, depicting Sarasvati.
The four-armed goddess sits on a platform with a decorated plinth. Facing her is her vahana, the peacock. In her upper right hand she carries a scroll, symbolizing probably the Vedas, in her upper left cymbals, in her lower right hand is a lotus flower, and in the lower left a vina. The bird with its magnificently foliated tail, majestic talons, abundant jewellery, and above all, size, dwarfs the figure of the goddess.
- Production date
- 19thC(late)-20thC(early)
- Curator's comments
- This is a complete storytellers’ set of sixty paintings (2007,3014.1 to 60). It depicts the story of king Harishchandra, one of the most popular stories throughout India and narrated in the Mahabharata, in the Markandeya Purana and in the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam. The source of the present narrative is uncertain as it is often retold with a number of variations and additions in numerous local languages. King Harischandra, the hero of this tale, exemplifies moral rectitude.
In the usual Paithan manner, this was once attached to another painting (see 2007,3014. 1), which was removed and separately mounted in 1996 when the two paintings were on exhibition. Paithan paintings were used as part of a story-telling performance, and while entertaining, were also considered to be a form of worship. Hence the ritual invocation of Ganesha (the Lord of beginnings) and Sarasvati (the goddess of the arts and language) at the opening of the tale.
ACameron (2.10.2009)
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1996, London, BM, 'Like a stream of gold'.
2007 9 Aug-11 Nov, London, BM, Faith, Narrative and Desire.
- Condition
- The paintings are executed in opaque watercolour on foolscap size industrial paper. However, about 2.5 cm of the original format has been lost, as most of the leaves, probably badly frayed at the edges by their handling, have been cropped. Furthermore, some of the leaves have been repaired by the storytellers with newspaper bits, and with red masking tape. Fortunately almost nothing of the paintings, except the occasional top of a crown or decorative border, has been obliterated by these restorations.
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Mahabharata
- Acquisition date
- 2007
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 2007,3014.2