A group of ascetics, 1630-31
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British Museum
Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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At the period of this drawing … genre pictures, and separate studies of Indian life in its different aspects, had already come into fashion, and … ascetics, both Hindu and Muhammadan, mendicant or otherwise … naturally formed the subject of many paintings. In this picture, both Hindus and Muhammadans are shown, the separate figures being carefully differentiated. A little stiff and symmetrical, the group under the holy banyan tree is nevertheless constructed with considerable originality. The signature appearing at the bottom left-hand corner reads 'Slave of the Lord of the conjunctions (i.e. Shah Jahan) 'Inayat 1040 A H' (A.D. 1630-31). 'They are seated around a wood fire under a great banyan tree, and the fire-light warms the cold flesh tints and the drab dervish robes with its glow. This kind of lighting is one of the romantic foibles of this time.'
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This item is provided for research purposes. Contact the Australian National University Archives at butlin.archives@anu.edu.au for permission to use.
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