Saraswati
Painting
ca. 1860 (made)
ca. 1860 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Painting, in opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper, Kalighat image of the Hindu deity Saraswati, the goddess of learning, patroness of art, music and the sciences. Here Saraswati is shown against a yellow background sitting upon a lotus flower, playing a vina, an Indian musical instrument. As represented on the deity's costume, the use of dots and lines to represent silver decoration (executed in tin alloy) was also adopted by Kalight painters during this period. Saraswati is the consort of Vishnu and later of Brahma.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Saraswati (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, Saraswati. opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper, Kolkata, ca. 1860 |
| Physical description | Painting, in opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper, Kalighat image of the Hindu deity Saraswati, the goddess of learning, patroness of art, music and the sciences. Here Saraswati is shown against a yellow background sitting upon a lotus flower, playing a vina, an Indian musical instrument. As represented on the deity's costume, the use of dots and lines to represent silver decoration (executed in tin alloy) was also adopted by Kalight painters during this period. Saraswati is the consort of Vishnu and later of Brahma. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | Saraswati, the goddess of learning, patroness of art, music and the sciences. Here Saraswati is shown against a yellow background sitting upon a lotus flower, playing a vina, an Indian musical instrument. |
| Style | |
| Object history | Historical significance: Calcutta was recognised as the capital of British India from 1833-1912. By the 1830s, artists had arrived from rural villages in Bengal and began to produce paintings that reflected the local history, mythology, customs and conflics of a colonised society. As a popular art form, these artists are recognised for their use of brilliant colour, simplified images and swift brushstrokes that became the hallmark of Kalighat painting in the 19th and early 20th century. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Archer, W.G (1971) 'Kalighat Paintings' Victoria and Albert Museum, London. HMSO. p53 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.468-1950 |
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| Record created | November 5, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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