Three religious mendicant couples
Painting
ca. 1830 (painted)
ca. 1830 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. This one comes from a volume containing 30 folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processional scenes. It shows three religious mendicant (begging) couples. The couple on the left are non-Brahmin Vaishnavites. They are followers of the philosopher Ramanuja, who revitalised Vaishnavism in the 11th century and whose image appears on the man's flag. The identifying inscription is in Telugu. The couple in the middle belong to a non-Brahmin priest caste, and the inscription below is in Tamil. The third couple are non-Brahmin mendicants (beggars). The man is blowing a conch shell and holding a begging bowl. The woman is carrying a skin bag and holding a peacock-feather fan (morchhal). There is a lamp on a stand between them. The inscription is in Telugu.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Three religious mendicant couples (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour and gouache on paper |
| Brief description | Painting; gouache and watercolour, Three religious mendicant couples, from a volume containing thirty folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processions, Tanjore, ca. 1830 |
| Physical description | Painting, watercolour and gouache on paper from a folio of thirty Company paintings, depicting three religious mendicant couples: 1. A non-Brahmin Vaishnavite couple, followers of the philosopher Ramanuja, founder of Shrivaishnavism; the man carrying a small banner depicting the philosopher; both holding begging bowls. 2. A couple of non-Brahmin priest caste. 3. A non-Brahmin mendicant priest and woman; the man blowing a conch-shell and holding a begging bowl, the woman carrying a skin bag and holding a peacock-feather fan; between them, a lamp burning on a stand. One of a volume of thirty folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and procession scenes. 1. A Tamil Sonarta Brahmin; the man carrying a palm-leaf manuscript, the woman a waterpot. 2. A Tamil Iyengar Brahmin. 3. A couple, possibly fan-makers, each holding a fan. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Object history | From a volume containing thirty folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processions. Bought from Mr. G. Goolden who had it from his late cousin Richard Goolden. RP 87/672 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. This one comes from a volume containing 30 folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processional scenes. It shows three religious mendicant (begging) couples. The couple on the left are non-Brahmin Vaishnavites. They are followers of the philosopher Ramanuja, who revitalised Vaishnavism in the 11th century and whose image appears on the man's flag. The identifying inscription is in Telugu. The couple in the middle belong to a non-Brahmin priest caste, and the inscription below is in Tamil. The third couple are non-Brahmin mendicants (beggars). The man is blowing a conch shell and holding a begging bowl. The woman is carrying a skin bag and holding a peacock-feather fan (morchhal). There is a lamp on a stand between them. The inscription is in Telugu. |
| 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, 59 - 65 p. ISBN 0944142303 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.39:8-1987 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 24, 2000 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
