Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity (Shri Shri Lakshmi
As a harbinger of prosperity, Lakshmi is a popular subject for household shrine prints. She holds emblems of wealth here: a golden tray with a jar for vermilion powder (sindur gachkouto) and a cornucopia-like sheath of rice. A field of grain fills the middle ground, and seashells, yet another symbol for riches, appear in bountiful heaps at her feet. The goddess’s halo, toga-like sari, and owl companion attest to a strong connection between this print and European depictions of Greek gods. The architectural vista beyond juxtaposes traditional temples with the neoclassical European architecture of colonial Kolkata, including the palatial mansions of the richest Bengalis.
Artwork Details
- Title: Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity (Shri Shri Lakshmi
- Date: ca. 1880
- Culture: India, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Medium: Lithograph with watercolor on paper
- Dimensions: Image: 11 1/2 × 8 7/8 in. (29.2 × 22.5 cm)
Sheet: 15 3/4 × 12 in. (40 × 30.5 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Purchase, Gift of Mrs. William J. Calhoun, by exchange, 2013
- Object Number: 2013.5
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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Sasadhar Banarjee
ca. 1880–85
1878–83
1878–83
G. C. Dass (recto)
ca. 1880–85 (recto); ca. 1875–85 (verso)
ca. 1879
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