Picture Details
A Muslim noble and his wife
Partner:
British LibraryImage reference:
BL.Add.Or.203Origin:
Tamil Nadu, IndiaArtist / Date:
Unknown, 1797Description:
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A Muslim noble and his wife face each other in a style that was popular in painting in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, recognisable for its colour palette of dazzling reds, greens and blues and simple large formats. Sets of castes and occupations were produced for sale to the British from the late 18th century. The man holds a rose and a dagger while the woman holds a betel leaf. A rose was considered a highly elegant flower, emblematic of the poetic pursuits which were the sign of a cultivated man. Betel leaves were masticated by the poor as well as the upper classes, but the latter created the consumption of them into something of a fine art. A plain betel chew or `paan' consisted of chopped areca nut and a smear of lime paste wrapped in a betel leaf. An elaborate chew would additionally contain fragrant spices and rose preserve or shredded coconut, the betel leaf decorated with silver leaf.
