Holy Man Seated on a Regency-Style Chair

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Holy Man Seated on a Regency-Style Chair

c. 1825-1850

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

The three horizontal white lines on this priest's forehead indicate that he is a devotee of the god Shiva. The orange-clad and tonsured holy man wears a garland of rudraksha beads, the large brown seeds of a tree sacred to Shiva. On his feet are raised wooden thong sandals often worn by holy men. In his lap is a horizontal sacred book (called a pothi in Sanskrit), partially wrapped in his robe. His young face is serious as he holds up one page and points to it. Rather than the more traditional mat, this holy man sits on an elegant Regency-style wooden chair, a prop indicating affluence and high status during the British period.

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Object Details

Title:

Holy Man Seated on a Regency-Style Chair

Date:

c. 1825-1850

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Opaque and transparent watercolor on paper

Dimensions:

Sheet: 13 1/16 × 9 7/16 inches (33.2 × 24 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

Bequest of Dean Walker, 2006

Accession Number:

2006-53-125

Geography:

Made in Kota, Rajasthan, India, Asia

Context:

Dynasty: Hada Chauhan Dynasty, Kota (1631-1948/1949?)

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