THE HINDU GOD BRAHMA AND HIS VAHANA
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, early 19th century

Opaque pigments and gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting the multi-armed and multi-faced Hindu God Brahma, the creator of the four Vedas, standing on a lotus, holding his attributes (the Vedas, the mala rosary and a water vessel, possibly a kamandalu), next to him his vahana (vehicle), the Hamsa duck, in the background a sumptuous palatial complex with tall chhajjas and domed buildings, and in front of it a river filled with lotus flowers, possibly the Jojari river, set within black and white rules, and gold and red borders, the recto plain, mounted on a piece of white cardboard, 19.2cm x 14cm excluding the mount.