Ayyanar
1820
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1820
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Ayyanar is a 1820 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a central figure holding a bow and a discus, standing between two women. The man wears bright gold jewelry, a purple sash, and a black headdress with a red flower. The women stand on either side, dressed in long skirts with yellow borders and holding small balls. The colors are bold—lots of reds, yellows, and greens—with sharp outlines and flat areas of color. The central figure looks like a deity, often shown with these exact symbols in South Asian art. The women’s poses suggest they’re attendants or worshippers. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.
This 1820 drawing depicts the village deity Ayyanar accompanied by his two shaktis, Puranai and Pudgalai, each holding a lotus. Ayyanar is shown leaning on a crutch while holding a sceptre, and the work is part of a series of 100 drawings of Hindu deities created in South India.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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