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The two courts of the Nelliapparasvami.

Unknown

1820

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Patna School of Painting Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

The two courts of the Nelliapparasvami. is a 1820 paint by Unknown, a Patna School of Painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1820 · Patna School of Painting
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows two bright shrines side by side, packed with gold and jewel-like colors. The left shrine has a big round symbol inside, while the right one has a green-faced figure holding a flower. Both shrines sit on decorated bases, with a small horse-drawn carriage in front of the left one. Palm trees line the top edge, and the background is mostly plain white. The tiny handwritten text at the bottom names the shrines, hinting they’re part of a temple complex. The colors are bold and flat, with no shading to make things look three-dimensional. If you like this style, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like it.

The story of this work

Overview

The artwork depicts the two courtyards of the Nelliapparasvami Temple in Tinnevelly, separated by palm trees and a water tank. On the left side, the Shiva lingam is shown with the bull Nandi and a temple flag positioned in front. The right side features Parvati holding a lotus-chauri, with a line of palm trees across the top framing the scene.

Read the full account in the museum source.