Lot 86 HANUMAN IN DEVOTIONAL POSTURE KOTA, RAJASTHAN, INDIA, CIRCA 18TH CENTURY
Opaque watercolour on paper.
This vibrant miniature painting portrays Lord Hanuman, the devoted servant of Rama, standing in a posture of reverence (anjali mudra) in a lush, idealized landscape. Rendered in refined Kota style, Hanuman wears beaded ornaments, and a finely patterned dhoti, suggesting his divine status. His facial features are distinctively simian yet anthropomorphized, with large, expressive eyes and a red facial hue symbolic of his bhakti (devotion).
The richly detailed forested background, populated with peacocks, cranes, flowering trees, and serene lotuses, echoes the spiritual tranquility of Hanuman's presence. The subtle use of shading on the hills, elegant flora, and jewel-like color palette aligns this work with the Kota School, a sub-style of the Rajasthani tradition known for its lyrical naturalism and devotional sentiment.
Art Historical Context and References:
Hanuman was a frequent subject in Kangra and Guler paintings, often shown in meditation or devotion, reflecting his ideal of selfless service.
For similar iconography and treatment, see:
W.G. Archer’s Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills (Oxford, 1973), particularly volumes on Kangra and Guler.
Milo Cleveland Beach’s Rajput Painting at Bundi and Kota for related stylistic comparisons.
The Spirit of Indian Painting by B.N. Goswamy (Penguin, 2016), which includes interpretive insights into figures like Hanuman in devotional art.
40 by 32 cm.