Artwork
A Couple (from the series Costumes and Professions)
A Couple (from the series Costumes and Professions) is an unspecified painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
A Couple, a painting from the series Costumes and Professions, depicts a man and woman standing together, created by Indian artists for a British East India Company official.
Subject & Meaning
The man, marked with sectarian symbols on his forehead, chest, and arms, is identified as a follower of the Hindu god Vishnu. An inscription on the original protective cover describes his occupation as praying at a 'native doorway'.
Technique & Style
The painting is characterized by bold outlines, saturated colors, and extensive use of gold leaf, exemplifying the southern style of Company school painting.
Context
This work was part of a series documenting Indian costumes and professions, which British collectors sometimes used to portray Indian holy men in a particular, often unfavorable, light.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
