in opaque colours on paper, the younger initiates busy themselves in attendance upon the sanachee who berates one of them, 30.5 x 42.8cm., framed and glazed

Provenance:

Collection of Robert Skelton, O.B.E. (1929-2022)

Kasmin Gallery, Clifford St., purchased 6th January 1992

This group of saddhus renounced all of the temptations of the world including sexual activity declaring their intended llife of celibacy by wearing a karalingi, or 'ring of the phallus', which can be seen on the figure on the right. As part of their training they would spend many years attending to the needs of a more experienced devotee.

Originally the cenral large figure had been identifed as an 'ogre' but, correspondence with Anna Dallapiccola led to the figures being identified as saddhus of this extreme sect. Part of a letter from Anna to Robert and a note from her are attached to the reverse as is a printed image of a Tanjore painting of a karalingi which enabled Anna to make this identification.

Paithan paintings were produced in sets, often double sided, to be used by story tellers, their recitations fequently intended to be a form of devotional act. An example of one of these sets, similar in style to this painting, is in the British Museum, 2007, 3014.1-60.