Alice West

visual resources cataloger for #Islamic #Art & #Architecture
@HarvardLibrary | all views my own

[Alice West @iconographile]

Sorry, forgot the full image, got away with fascinating details :)

[Alice West @iconographile]

Love these details: a water carrier, using a goatskin bag, sprinkles water on the ground before the parade to reduce dust kicked up by horses. Padshahnama (Windsor, 1005025), f. 122b

[Alice West @iconographile]

@hemantsarin Thank you. I wrote Mr. Laurent and got all the answers :)

[Alice West @iconographile]

@hemantsarin Hello, If I may, was this image taken by Shuttleworth? Where does the image come from, when was it made, and, importantly, what's on it? I am torn between Lagope Gompa, Basgo Gompa, and other monasteries in the Spiti Valley. Any ideas very much appreciated!

[Alice West @iconographile]

I believe this is Lakshmi with a 'candlestick' that may actually be an oil lamp stand.
I cannot figure out what is the object that looks like the Buddha's hand fruit. It appears on both sides of Vishnu.

Hope you will enjoy these images as much as I do!

[Alice West @iconographile]

The iconography is traditional: Vishnu's right hand is off the couch on some kind of Shiva's lingam. From his navel, Brahma emerges on a lotus.

[Alice West @iconographile]

I hate snakes, but Anantha, according to a legend is nice. He loves to float in the comic ocean, meditate, and he taught us yoga. Here, he serves as a couch for the Reclining Vishnu. The resting Vishnu is flanked by Lakshmi & Bhudevi, his main consort.

[Alice West @iconographile]

Onavillu, ceremonial bows, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Kerala, India. Usually a rack holds six designs, with Vishnu reclining on snake Anantha being the longest & widest, but this rack has only one. Traditional colors: B&W, red, yellow, and blue are used. #stuartcarywelch @Harvard

[Alice West @iconographile]

Another Parashurama from the #stuartcarywelch collection at https://t.co/Sm9zRCt60Q, but no confusion here. Blue skin, yellow dhoti, an axe, and good old chopping.

San Diego Museum of Art, late 18th cent., acc. #1990.1314.

[Alice West @iconographile]

On a more peaceful note, here's Light on a Field of Poppies by #LaimaGoda in my collection. This painting got me confused while briefly seeing Parashurama, until I had a second look. I do not think I'll look at these peaceful fields in the South of France the same ever again...

[Alice West @iconographile]

From afar, this looks like a Hindu god in a peaceful field of poppies. Up close, it is an avatar of Vishnu-Krishna, warrior-priest Parashurama, Rama with the Axe (parashu), sitting in a pool of blood. There is no action or violence, which makes it even scarier.
#stuartcarywelch

[Alice West @iconographile]

With blood pouring from the patra (vessel of capacity in Hindu mythology) in his hands, Parashurama holds all the power in this painting.

Gov't Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh, acc 327.
Src: V. Agrawal. Piecing it together: Three Dasavatara folios from a great Gita Govinda...

[Alice West @iconographile]

I counted, of course. True, 7 drummers + 2 trumpeters = 9, if you do not count the two on the sides. I think it's ok not to.
f48b: Jahangir receives Prince Khurram on his return from the Deccan. Naubats often announced the arrival of royalty. (Naubat has other meanings too.)

[Alice West @iconographile]

"Naubat - a band of 9 performers (wind+percussions), who played in balconies over gateways & palaces (naubat-khana). Emperor Akbar was fond of playing in the naubat." - P. Sambamoorthy. The Flute. The Indian Music Publishing House. 1967, p112
#stuartcarywelch Padshahnama, ca1657

[Alice West @iconographile]

The Moon and its three reflections is a physical impossibility from an artist's single point of view, but in art you can show (and enjoy) as many points of view as you like. #stuartcarywelch Princess and companions on a moonlit terrace, ca. 1760, India.

[Alice West @iconographile]

@iamkristinesr @theUL @theULSpecColl @BLAsia_Africa @nilbaydar2 @CamUniLibrarian @YasminYf227 What is it with ʻAjāʼib al-makhlūqāt? Everyone's looking at it today (me too) :)))

[Alice West @iconographile]

@unsquare925 Something like this, yes :)

[Alice West @iconographile]

This image is not in Harvard's #stuartcarywelch archive, but it was too hard to pass by. I love strange things and the item Rustam holds in his right hand, while frowning at Isfandiyar, by all means qualifies. What is it? 🤔

NY Met, 29.160.21, Shahnama, 1341, Shiraz.

[Alice West @iconographile]

@azadelatif Sorry, did you see my reply below? I think I posted in the wrong place.