Rare Paintings
 14 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
"BHISHMA - 10TH DAY KURUKSHETRA" / Mahabharata
Painted by: M F Husain - 1988

Print, one of a portfolio of eleven: "MAHABHARATA". Numbered, signed. Ink and watercolour on paper.

The Surya Siddhanta defines Uttarāyaṇa or Uttarayan as the period between the Makara Sankranti (which currently occurs... Read More
 14 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper,illustration to the Razm-nama (a Persian translation of the Mahabharata), the last hours of Bhisma. He lies on a bed of arrows discoursing to Yudhisthira.

Mughal
1598 ca.
Artist: 'Ali, Husain
Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper

The ... Read More
 12 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
Two Wild Buffalos from Baburnama

Painting
Artist: Mansur
Designer: Kanha
Mughal dynasty, Reign of Akbar, ca. 1589
Mughal School
Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper

The first Mughal emperor, Babur (reigned 1526–30), wrote memoirs that included precise descriptions of the animals and flowers... Read More
 12 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
Indian Bull

Painting
19th century
Company School
Color and black on paper

Copyright © 2017 Smithsonian Institution Read More
 12 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
Jamini Roy (India, 1887-1972)
Brahmin Bull
tempera on card, signed lower right, gallery label on backboard, framed

Source: Bonhams Read More
 11 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
Pen-and-ink and wash by George Chinnery of an Indian villager with a bullock, dated between 1808 and 1822. Inscribed on front in ink is: 'Hindoo Costume from Nature. Chinnery.'

India has the largest number of cows and buffaloes in the world. Cows are regarded as sacred by the Hindus and are a sy... Read More
 11 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
Winged Shaivite? figure riding composite bull, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Murshidabad, ca. 1760

Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, a Shaivite figure with angel's wings and pale white skin, with a cobra entwined on either arm, riding a composite bull, made up of hares, ... Read More
 10 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
Running youths holding the tails of a humped bull and a winged lion - Fragments of railing copings from the Great Stupa of Amaravati - 1853

Wash drawing by Murugesa Moodaliar of fragments of railing copings from the Great Stupa of Amaravati. This is one of 42 sheets (89 drawings) depicting sculp... Read More
 10 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
Nandi, The Great Bull at Tanjore - 1798

Plate 22 from the second set of Thomas and William Daniell's 'Oriental Scenery'. The Brihadishvara Temple at Thanjavur is the greatest temple of the Chola period. It was patronised by Rajaraja I around AD 1000-10. The pavilion represented in the print was ... Read More
 8 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
Garuda, the 'vahana' of Vishnu, returning with the vase of Amrita, which he had stolen from the gods in order to free his mother from Kadru, mother of serpents. The 'vahana' is the animal mount or vehicle of a Hindu god or goddess.

Tiruchchirappalli
ca. 1820 - ca. 1825
Gouache on watermarked pa... Read More
 8 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
The shrine of Vishnu in the form of Viraraghavaswami, reclining on the serpent of eternity, the form in which he is worhipped at the shrine of Tiravallur in Chingleput district. To the right stands Lakshmi and to the left a Vaishnava priest.

Tiruchchirappalli
ca. 1820 - ca. 1825
Gouache on wate... Read More
 8 Jan 2017 Rare Paintings
Vishnu

Painting
Gouache on watermarked paper
Trichinopoly, ca. 1825

Vishnu as Vaikuntha-natha seated on the coils of the serpent Sesha between his two shaktis, Shri and Bhumi Devi; a third, Nila Devi, supports his right foot. From a series of 100 drawings of Hindu deities created in South India... Read More
 28 Dec 2016 Rare Paintings
Rites and Beliefs of the Hindus
Illustration depicting Sub-castes

Faizabad - ca. 1774
Gentil Manuscripts, Col J B J Gentil, Faizabad, ca. 1774.

Gentil lived for twenty-five years in India, spending eleven of them at the court of Shuja-ud-daula. He carried from India among other things an atlas ... Read More
 28 Dec 2016 Rare Paintings
Rites and Beliefs of the Hindus
Offerings for different types of disease and ailments.

Faizabad - ca. 1774
Gentil Manuscripts, Col J B J Gentil, Faizabad, ca. 1774.

Gentil lived for twenty-five years in India, spending eleven of them at the court of Shuja-ud-daula. He carried from India among o... Read More
 27 Dec 2016 Rare Paintings
Rites and Beliefs of the Hindus
Different types of puja, for the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas.

Faizabad - ca. 1774

Gentil Manuscripts, Col J B J Gentil, Faizabad, ca. 1774.

Gentil lived for twenty-five years in India, spending eleven of them at the court of Shuja-ud-daula. He carried from ... Read More
 25 Dec 2016 Rare Paintings
Mother Mary and Child Christ
Mid 18th century, late Mughal, Muhammad Shah period

A masterpiece on a widely different theme foreign to Indian painters, the miniature represents mother Mary with child Jesus in her lap and a number of persons around. They include a bearded tall male in long saffron... Read More
 25 Dec 2016 Rare Paintings
Madonna and Child in a Domestic Interior

Painting by Manohar (active ca. 1582–1624)
early 17th century
Mughal

During Akbar’s reign, numerous Christian subjects were copied by Indian artists working from the illustrated Bibles, prints, and paintings that were brought to the Mughal court by Jesui... Read More
 22 Dec 2016 Rare Paintings
A woman holding a lotus

Lucknow
ca.1815 - ca. 1820
Watercolour

Inscription:
'Gopal Ma'

‘Company paintings' were produced by Indian artists for Europeans living and working in the Indian subcontinent, especially British employees of the East India Company. They represent a fusion of traditiona... Read More
 22 Dec 2016 Rare Paintings
A woman with flowers possibly celebrating the Vasant Panchimi festival

Lucknow
ca.1815 - ca. 1820
Watercolour

Inscription:
'Ponchumee'

‘Company paintings' were produced by Indian artists for Europeans living and working in the Indian subcontinent, especially British employees of the East Indi... Read More
 22 Dec 2016 Rare Paintings
A dancing-girl

Lucknow
ca.1815 - ca. 1820
Watercolour

Inscription:
'Khutteranee Woman. A natch Girl'

‘Company paintings' were produced by Indian artists for Europeans living and working in the Indian subcontinent, especially British employees of the East India Company. They represent a fusio... Read More
 22 Dec 2016 Rare Paintings
A Muslim woman, kneeling on a cot, worshiping.

Lucknow
ca.1815 - ca. 1820
Watercolour

Inscription:
'A Mussulmanee Worshipping. Sijdee Meekoonud'

‘Company paintings' were produced by Indian artists for Europeans living and working in the Indian subcontinent, especially British employees of the... Read More