4th Jun, 2025 11:00
Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art and Greek and Roman Antiquities
34
A DEPICTION OF THE CHILD KRISHNA LYING ON A BANYAN LEAF, TAMIL NADU, CIRCA 1830
in opaque colours on paper, the child god is depicted naked wearing only jewelled adornments and a sash sucking his toe, framed, image 21 x 16.3cm.
Provenance:
Acquired by the vendor, Maggs Bros, Oriental Bulletin No 15, April 1969, No 177, where the painting was attributed to Trichy, circa 1832-35, suggesting that more specific provenance information had been given to the sellers.
This depiction of Vatapattrashayi, the infant Krishna lying on a banyan leaf, would have formed part of a large album of depictions of Hindu deities. These albums had become a popular acquisition for European visitors who came in increasing numbers to South India from the end of the 18th century. Tanjore, in particular, is associated with the production of this form of painting, though other towns also practiced their own iterations of this style. A number of examples of these albums, which include related Vatapattrashayi compositions, can be found in the collections of the British Museum, see 1992, 0410, 0.1.45, and 1993, 0806,0.1-82.
Sold for £250
in opaque colours on paper, the child god is depicted naked wearing only jewelled adornments and a sash sucking his toe, framed, image 21 x 16.3cm.
Provenance:
Acquired by the vendor, Maggs Bros, Oriental Bulletin No 15, April 1969, No 177, where the painting was attributed to Trichy, circa 1832-35, suggesting that more specific provenance information had been given to the sellers.
This depiction of Vatapattrashayi, the infant Krishna lying on a banyan leaf, would have formed part of a large album of depictions of Hindu deities. These albums had become a popular acquisition for European visitors who came in increasing numbers to South India from the end of the 18th century. Tanjore, in particular, is associated with the production of this form of painting, though other towns also practiced their own iterations of this style. A number of examples of these albums, which include related Vatapattrashayi compositions, can be found in the collections of the British Museum, see 1992, 0410, 0.1.45, and 1993, 0806,0.1-82.
Auction: Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art and Greek and Roman Antiquities, 4th Jun, 2025
Auction Location: London, UK
The sales include sculpture, bronzes, metalwork, textiles and paintings representative of the richly varied styles seen across the Indian subcontinent, from early Buddhist and Jain art to Mughal and European-influenced works of art of the colonial era.
Works of art from all parts of the Islamic world, from Morocco in the west, through the Middle East, Persia and Central Asia to muslim China and South East Asia in the East are included in the sale. Objects range in date from the early centuries of Islam to the early 20th century at a wide range of price levels.
The sales also include Khmer, Thai and Javanese sculpture and bronzes, textiles from the Indonesian islands, Thai ceramics, Burmese lacquer and Buddhist manuscripts. Works of art range from the early Indian-influenced styles from 9th century Java to the elaborate carved and lacquered woodwork from Colonial Burma.
For full details of bibliographic references, see pages 192-193 of the page turning and printed versions of the catalogue.
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 1st June 12pm - 4pm
Monday 2nd June 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 3rd June 10am - 5pm
CONTACT US
Lara Defries
lara.defries@olympiaauctions.com
Mr Arthur Millner
arthur.millner@olympiaauctions.com
Nicholas Shaw
nicholas.shaw@olympiaauctions.com
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PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 1st June 12pm - 4pm
Monday 2nd June 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 3rd June 10am - 5pm
