Painting
ca. 1865 - ca. 1870 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Painting, in opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper, depicting a courtesan holding a peacock in her arm. She wears a yellow sari with yellow border, and abundant silver jewellery (executed in tin alloy).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, courtesan holding peacock, opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper, Kolkata, ca. 1865-1870 |
| Physical description | Painting, in opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper, depicting a courtesan holding a peacock in her arm. She wears a yellow sari with yellow border, and abundant silver jewellery (executed in tin alloy). |
| Content description | A courtesan holding a peacock in her arm. |
| Style | |
| Gallery label | A LADY WITH A PEACOCK
Watercolour on paper, with tin details
Kalighat, Kolkata
1860-70
IS.247-1953
The peacock in this painting may represent the woman’s absent lover, or it may allude to her vanity. Kalighat paintings often depict women as a danger to men. This woman’s bold gaze may suggest that she is a courtesan.(27/9/2013) |
| Credit line | Given by the University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge, to which the series was presented by Mrs. Western of Langbrookside, Havant, Hampshire |
| Object history | Given by the University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge, to which the painting was presented by Mrs Western of Langrookside, Havant, Hampshire. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Sinha, Suhashini, and Panda, C, eds. Kalighat Paintings from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2012. ISBN 1851776656.
p. 73 and p. 36 (detail) fig 4.5, and p. 38 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.247-1953 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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