Divivida
1730
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1730
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Divivida is a 1730 paint by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting is packed with bright colors and wild scenes. You see monkeys dressed like kings, humans in fancy clothes, and gods lounging on balconies. The background is red and gold, with tiny details like crowns, jewels, and even a temple. One monkey holds a mirror showing another scene, while others play instruments or wave torches. The mix of humans and monkeys might seem strange, but it’s tied to Hindu stories where gods take animal forms. The bold outlines and flat colors make it feel like a lively storybook. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more paintings like this.
The artwork is an opaque watercolor painting on paper, created around 1730 as an illustration for the latter part of the 10th book of the Bhagavata Purana, depicting the monkey demon Divivida causing mischief.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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