Album of Hindu deities

February 2, 1837

Not on view

The 100 paintings presented in this album are a wondrous catalogue of the principal Hindu deities most widely celebrated in southern India. They are beautifully realized and with precise iconographic rendering, some of which display localized features that reference place-specific moments in legends celebrated in the region. Tamil Nadu had an important religious painting tradition, much of it applied to the plastered interiors of temple walls and ceilings and temple clothes. Neither have survived well in the monsoonal climate of southern India. This album, painted in Madurai in 1837 and despatched soon after to the USA, has escaped these depredations. It is in superb condition and a witness to the masterful skill and creativity of the hereditary painters of Madurai in the early 19th century.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Album of Hindu deities
Artist: Unidentified artists (Indian, Madurai, ca. 1830s)
Date: February 2, 1837
Culture: India
Medium: Watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions: Each leaf: 9 5/8 × 7 13/16 in. (24.5 × 19.9 cm)
Bound volume: H. 9 15/16 in. (25.3 cm): W. 8 1/8 in. (20.7 cm); D. 1 3/16 in. (3 cm)
Classification: Manuscripts
Credit Line: Purchase, Shanthi Kandiah, Brahmal Vasudevan, and The Alaka Foundation Gift, 2021
Object Number: 2021.433
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Unidentified artists

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

An Album of the Collection Belonging to Kochōshusai (The Courtesy Name of the Given Collector) (Kochōshusai shozō gassatsu) 蝴蜨秋斎所蔵畫冊, Unidentified artists Japanese, Set of two woodblock printed books bound as one volume; ink on paper, Japan — An Album of the Collection Belonging to Kochōshusai (The Courtesy Name of the Given Collector) (Kochōshusai shozō gassatsu) 蝴蜨秋斎所蔵畫冊
Unidentified artists
1882

Libretto for the Noh Play Eguchi ( Kōetsu utaibon Kokatsuji ban "Eguchi" ) 光悦謡本古活字版 " 江口", Unidentified artists Japanese, Woodblock-printed book; ink and mica on paper (Saga-bon), Japan — Libretto for the Noh Play Eguchi ( Kōetsu utaibon Kokatsuji ban "Eguchi" ) 光悦謡本古活字版 " 江口"
Unidentified artists
ca. 1605

Hunting screen, Unidentified artists , Korean, Eight-panel folding screen, ink and color on paper, Korea — Hunting screen
Unidentified artists
19th century

The Great Victory of Qurman

, Unidentified artists European and Chinese, Fragment of a painting mounted as a hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China — The Great Victory of Qurman
Unidentified artists
1760

Śikhin, one of the Buddhas of the past, Unidentified artists, Gold on indigo-dyed paper, China — Śikhin, one of the Buddhas of the past
Unidentified artists
dated 1777

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.