Temple Hanging with a Hindu Devotee

late 17th - first quarter of the 18th century
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
This Indian hanging is a masterwork of the art of kalamkari, a method of hand-painting dyes on fabric using a bamboo pen, or kalam. The artist’s skill is illustrated by the sensitivity of the painted line, the sophisticated integration of the figure into a foliate landscape, and the fine rendering of the worshipful sentiment of the Shiva devotee. Produced in one of the great cloth-painting centers of south India, this hanging was intended for export to Sri Lanka. The presence of a large Tamil Hindu community there generated a demand for imported Indian textiles such as this hanging, which would have been displayed during religious festivals.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Temple Hanging with a Hindu Devotee
  • Date: late 17th - first quarter of the 18th century
  • Geography: Made in India
  • Culture: India (Tamil Nadu), for the Sri Lankan market
  • Medium: Cotton (painted mordant and iron, dyed)
  • Dimensions: 42.9 x 61 in (108.9 x 154.9 cm)
  • Credit Line: Collection of Karun Thakar, London
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing