A rat-catcher and his wife
1770
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1770
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
A rat-catcher and his wife is a 1770 paint by Unknown, a Rococo painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a rat-catcher and his wife with the tools of their trade. They are dressed in simple clothes and have a serious look on their faces. The painting gives us a glimpse into the daily life of ordinary people in South India. The details in the painting, like the rat-catcher's tools and the couple's clothing, suggest that it was made to document the different castes and occupations of the region. To learn more about the use of shading and contrast in this painting, look into the technique of chiaroscuro.
A painting from a set of thirty-six depicting South Indian castes and occupations depicts a rat-catcher and his wife, the man holding a rat while the woman carries a child and a basket. The work features a red border, a cloud-strewn top, and heavy shadowed feet against a dark green ground, consistent with the album’s style.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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