Annapurna and Shiva

The painting features a yellow background accented with orange and gray lines. The technique involves layering opaque watercolour to achieve depth, though its stylistic attribution is noted separately as potentially misleading - the work's characteristics align more closely with traditional Indian miniature painting techniques than with Impressionism.

Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1950 from Miss M. Steele, the painting was part of a collection inherited from her mother, a Cambridge Sanskrit scholar (acquired in 1894), potentially originally gathered by Miss Steele’s grandmother during her time in India.

The painting reflects the cultural exchange and collecting practices of the late 19th century, particularly among British individuals with ties to India, such as Miss Steele’s family.

Housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, 'Annapurna and Shiva' contributes to the institution’s collection of Indian art, offering insights into late 19th-century Hindu devotional art and the history of cultural exchange.