Picture Details
Seller of medicines and his ware
Partner:
British LibraryImage reference:
BL.Add.Or.1106Origin:
North, IndiaArtist / Date:
Unknown, 1798-1804Donor / Date:
Wellesley AlbumsDescription:
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Water-colour painting in the Calcutta style from the typical 'trades and occupations' series done for Lord Wellesley (1760-1842), the Governor General of India sometime in 1798-1804. The painting depicts a drug seller's shop with his ware displayed on shelves and baskets. The drugs sold are usually the plant-based or mineral-based drugs mainly used by the Unani and Ayurved medical practitioners. The oil-based or liquid medications are kept in labelled-jars of varying shapes, sizes and colour on the shelf affixed to the wall. Some of the larger jars are placed in baskets for support. Attached to the side of the shelf is a wooden frame with horizontal bars, medicinal pouches used for a specific method of treatment hang from here. The shopkeeper sits on a slightly-raised multi-legged dais, surrounded by baskets of drugs. The drugs are usually in the form of dried plant material like barks, roots and fruits, which then have to be powdered or boiled as per the medical recipe. Also can be seen weighing scales and weights suitable for measuring out small quantities of such products. Behind the seller can be seen a wooden-box, usually made with compartments for the safe-keeping of money and medical recipes, and sometimes, as in this case, doubling up as a convenient back-support.
