Art, Sculpture and Treasures of India

Ordered by

Post Date
Artefacts
Article/Essays
Event
Links
New Books
Rare BOOKS
Rare Manuscripts
Rare Maps
Rare Paintings
Rare Photographs
Sculpture
Video
 15 Sep 2013 Rare Paintings
Music party on a riverside terrace
North India, c. 1670

A music party takes place on the terrace of one of the noblemen’s havelis or garden mansions that once lined the Jumna river at Agra, upstream from the Taj Mahal. The Muslim noble who hosts this soirée presides against a flowered gold cu... Read More
 15 Sep 2013 Rare Paintings
Woman visiting hermit playing vina with attendant and dog.

On paper
Mughal Style
18thC(late)
India

© Trustees of the British Museum Read More
 15 Sep 2013 Rare Paintings
A Raja listening to music on a terrace
Mandsaur, c. 1800

A Raja holding a rose-sprig listens to his female musicians on a terrace, while a pet dog lies nearby.

© University of Oxford - Ashmolean Museum Read More
 15 Sep 2013 Rare Paintings
Ascetics making music, illustrating the musical mode Kedar Raga
Arki, Himachal Pradesh
Late 17th century

The musical mode Kedar is visualised as two yogis or ascetics making music within a small pavilion. Seated on a leopard skin, a traditional seat of yogis who have mastered the temptations of ... Read More
 13 Sep 2013 Article/Essay
Essay:
Indian Textiles: Trade and Production
By Marika Sardar
Institute of Fine Arts, New York University

Trade:
In the international commerce of the pre-industrial era, spices and textiles were the principal commodities. India in particular was known for the quality of its textiles, and for cen... Read More
 13 Sep 2013
Man's robe (jama), 17th century
India, Deccan, Burhanpur or Hyderabad
Cotton; painted, with applied gold leaf

The early Mughal rulers Akbar and Jahangir were interested in fashion stuffs, carpets, and ornamental textiles. Both emperors had a penchant for inventing new names for garments and ... Read More
 9 Sep 2013 Rare Paintings
Shiva and Parvati with their children Ganesha and Karttikeya (Skanda)
ca. 1830
Painting
H: 20.1 W: 15.8 cm
Kangra, Punjab Hills, India

Copyright © Smithsonian Institution Read More
 9 Sep 2013 Sculpture
Twenty-Armed Dancing Ganesha - Remover of Obstacles

10th century
Madhya Pradesh
India

Source: Art Institute of Chicago Read More
 8 Sep 2013 Article/Essay
Essay:
Hinduism and Hindu Art
By Vidya Dehejia
Department of Art History and Archaeology, Columbia University

According to the Hindu view, there are four goals of life on earth, and each human being should aspire to all four. Everyone should aim for dharma, or righteous living; artha, or wealth ... Read More
 8 Sep 2013 Rare Paintings
Shiva and Parvati, Ganesh and Karttikeya

Opaque watercolour on paper
Guler
ca. 1760

Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, Shiva, Parvati, Karttikeya, Ganesha and the bull Nandi sit on a plain green ground. A fire of logs is burning beside them and a mango tree looms above them. Parvat... Read More
 8 Sep 2013 Rare Paintings
Śiva and his family (Pārvatī, Gaṇeśa, and Karttikeya) in a landscape

Gouache painting on paper
Pahari School
Kangra Style
1760 (circa)
Panjab Hills

© Trustees of the British Museum Read More
 15 Aug 2013 Rare Photographs
Top of broken pillar in foreground with the famous Sarnath lion capital standing on the ground beyond - 1905

Photograph of the Lion Capital at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, from the Kitchener of Khartoum Collection: 'Views of Benares. Presented by the Maharaja of Benares' by Madho Prasad, c.1905 . S... Read More
 13 Aug 2013
Kṛṣṇa, seated in lalitasana, leans on a bolster placed on a large throne. His consorts, Rukmini and Satyabhama, sit on either side, each holding a lotus. On each side of the throne stands a chamaradharini (female fly-whisk bearer). Kṛṣṇa’s right foot rests in the hands of a female figure who knee... Read More
 13 Aug 2013 Rare Paintings
Story-telling painting, in gouache of the 'Paithan' type, illustrating a narrative from the Mahabharata. Rejoicings; the trials of Harishchandra and his family end happily.
Vishnu observes the king embracing Krishna, and the queen, Rukmini. Between the pairs are, the somewhat forgotten Vasishth... Read More
 13 Aug 2013 Rare Paintings
Pavilion with Krishna paintings
Kangra, c. 1800

This formal composition shows the facade of a small palace pavilion, with nine painted scenes of the exploits of the young Krishna. From lower right: Vishnu reclines on the snake Shesha; Brahma bows before Krishna; Krishna suckles to death the d... Read More
 13 Aug 2013 Rare Paintings
Rukmini sends an old man with a message for Kṛṣṇa while attendants watch.

Gouache painting on paper.
Made by: Hira Lal
Pahari School
Basohli Style
1770 (circa)
Panjab Hills

© Trustees of the British Museum Read More
 13 Aug 2013 Rare Paintings
An illustration from the Bhagavata Purana depicting the battle between Kṛṣṇa and Rukmi. After Kṛṣṇa elopes with Rukmini, her brother Rukmi follows to stop the wedding, and a battle ensues.

Gouache painting on paper
Attributed to: Nikka
Pahari School
Chamba Style
1775-1780 (circa)
Chamba

© Tr... Read More
 12 Aug 2013 Rare Paintings
Śiva and Durgā in a palace on mount Kailasa with attendant deities.
Gouache on paper
Rajasthan School
1790-1810 (circa)
India

© Trustees of the British Museum Read More
 12 Aug 2013 Rare Paintings
Seated Durgā with standing attendant
Gouache on paper

Rajasthan School
1790-1810 (circa)
India

© Trustees of the British Museum Read More
 11 Aug 2013 New Books
New Book:
Head and Heart : Valour and Self Sacrifice in the Art of India
By Mary Storm
Published by Routledge India - July 2013

An extensive study of self sacrificial images in Indian art, this book examines concepts such as head offering, human sacrifice, blood, suicide, valour, self immolati... Read More
 11 Aug 2013 Sculpture
Figure of Kālī striding over recumbent Śiva. Her necklace is formed of several skulls, while in her hand she carries a further gory trophy. Her crown is of a specifically Bengali type. Made of painted and gilded clay.

19thC(late)
Bengal

Curator's comments:
Dallapiccola 2004:

During th... Read More