A scroll-painting
- Object:
- Place of origin:
- Date:
ca. 1850 - ca. 1860 (painted)
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Opaque watercolour on paper backed with cloth
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
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This detail of a scroll painting probably painted in Mysore in about 1850-60 shows Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Raja of Mysore (r.1799-1868) on an elephant leading a religious procession in honour of the god Shiva. (He was formerly misidentified as Raja Sarabhoji of Tanjore (1777-1832).) British military commanders are also shown.
From left to right:-
Krishnaraja Wadiyar is preceded by dancing-girls, musicians, chauri-bearers and men carrying illuminations and letting of fireworks.
The Raja is followed by the British Resident and two Indian military commanders on horseback, elephants with kettledrums, horsemen and a great crowd with illuminations.
A wooden platform bearing an image of Shiva on a prancing horse under a canopy, followed by a crowd with dancing-girls and musicians.
Four temple cars dragged by ropes bearing images of Durga on a lion, Shiva on Nandi, Shiva on an elephant and Shiva on a horse. Dancing girls and men with fireworks may also be seen.
Shiva is carried in an elaborate gold and red carved car drawn by four small red horses.
The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. This is part of a long scroll-painting in Company style.
Physical description
Detail of a scroll painting showing Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Raja of Mysore (r.1799-1868) on an elephant leading a religious procession in honour of the god Shiva. (He was formerly misidentified as Raja Sarabhoji of Tanjore (1777-1832).) British military commanders are also shown.
From left to right:-
Krishnaraja Wadiyar is preceded by dancing-girls, musicians, chauri-bearers and men carrying illuminations and letting of fireworks.
The Raja is followed by the British Resident and two Indian military commanders on horseback, elephants with kettledrums, horsemen and a great crowd with illuminations.
A wooden platform bearing an image of Shiva on a prancing horse under a canopy, followed by a crowd with dancing-girls and musicians.
Four temple cars dragged by ropes bearing images of Durga on a lion, Shiva on Nandi, Shiva on an elephant and Shiva on a horse.
Dancing girls and men with fireworks.
Shiva in an elaborate gold and red carved car drawn by four small red horses.
etc.
Place of Origin
Thanjavur, India (made)
Date
ca. 1850 - ca. 1860 (painted)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Opaque watercolour on paper backed with cloth
Dimensions
Height: 21.5 cm, Width: 732 cm
Object history note
Jackson, Anna and Jaffer, Amin (eds), with Deepika Ahlawat. Maharaja : the splendour of India's royal courts. London, V&A Publishing, 2009. ISBN.9781851775736 (hbk.), ISBN.1851775730 (hbk.).
Plate 77, Page 95.
Descriptive line
painting; gouache, A scroll-painting, Tanjore, ca. 1850 - ca. 1860
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992, 58 p. ISBN 0944142303
Materials
Paper; Opaque watercolour; Cloth
Techniques
Painted
Subjects depicted
Elephant; Deities; Procession; Shiva; Processions; Military personnel; Krishnaraja Wodeyar
Categories
Paintings; Indian Company Paintings
Collection code
SSEA
