Not currently on display at the V&A

Coronation of Rama and Sita.

Painting
ca. 1820 - ca. 1825 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. This example is from a collection of 100 such paintings. They show Hindu deities and their vehicles, the Guardians of the Quarters, the avataras (incarnations) of Vishnu, and the story of Krishna. The subject matter is unusual. Company paintings generally showed more popular themes such as occupations and costume. An Englishman with scholarly interests must have commissioned this one.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCoronation of Rama and Sita. (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Opaque watercolour on watermarked paper
Brief description
Painting; gouache on watermarked paper, Coronation of Rama and Sita., Trichinopoly, ca. 1825.
Physical description
The coronation of Rama and Sita in their capital of Ayodhya. Rama is seated with Sita on a blue-cushioned throne under a scarlet canopy. His brothers Shatrughna, Lakshmana and Bharata hold the umbrella of royalty over the pair. Hanuman touches Rama's feet.
Dimensions
  • Height: 22cm
  • Width: 18cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • undeciphered (Inscription; decoration; Telugu; Telugu; Beneath illustration)
    Translation
    unknown
  • '37. Shreeramah sat on the throne with his brothers, Letchamanah Burda Sattroo[n?]ah and his wife Seethadavee and others.' (Inscription; decoration; English; Roman; Above illustration)
Object history
Purchased from Mr A. Churchill, 1923.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. This example is from a collection of 100 such paintings. They show Hindu deities and their vehicles, the Guardians of the Quarters, the avataras (incarnations) of Vishnu, and the story of Krishna. The subject matter is unusual. Company paintings generally showed more popular themes such as occupations and costume. An Englishman with scholarly interests must have commissioned this one.
Bibliographic reference
Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 28 p. ISBN 0944142303
Collection
Accession number
IM.391-1923

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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