Two 'Paithan' paintings, Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh, mid 19th century

Opaque watercolour on paper

Rossi 1998, p.135, no. 56

162A: Some slight wear and tear on the edges. Work in fairly good condition, as viewed. 162B: There are some minore spots of paint loss throughout the work - The edges are frayed and there is an abrasion in the bottom right corner. A light purple stain at the top. The work is in fair condition, as viewed.
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These illustrations belong to a group of paintings that are characterised by their use of monumental figures and a bold palette of primary colours outlined in black. The subject matter is often from the Mahabharata, as well as local myths. It is probable that these painting were used by storytellers (chitrakathis) who settled in Maharashtra, northern Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Although known as 'Paithan' these works relate more closely to the South Indian painting idiom, having parallels with the painted textile and leather-puppet traditions of Karnataka and Andhra. They were initially categorised as 'Paithan' when a group of paintings were found during the 1960s at the town of Paithan in Maharasthtra. Other 'Paithan' paintings are in the British Museum (Dallapiccola 2010, pp. 278-295) and the James Ivory Collection (Losty 2010, p. 184). A painting of Sarasvati in the British Museum also shows the goddess of learning alongside her vahana the peacock, in one of her four hands she carries a scroll, possibly representing the Vedas and in another a vina (ibid. no. 34.2).