Untitled

Unknown

ca. 1790 · Ink and opaque watercolor on paper · Asian Art

The subject of this painting is unusual. Queen Choladevi, whose husband had been blessed by Lakshrni, the goddess of good fortune, had not recognized the goddess when she came to her mansion in disguise. For her neglect, the queen was cursed by the deity and was given the head of a sow. She fled to the sage Angiras, who taught her the secret of the Mahalakshmi vrata, through whose power she was restored to mortal form. The story stresses the efficacy of tantric worship.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1790

Medium

Ink and opaque watercolor on paper

Culture

India (Punjab Hills, Guler)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Steven Kossak, The Kronos Collections, 1979