The Holy Cow and other animals. A selection of Indian Paintings f

Within any collection of Indian paintings - whether illuminated manuscript pages, individual works from royal albums or pilgrimage souvenirs - one will invariably find many featuring images of animals, either as a central theme or in a supporting role. This is true whether the painting portrays an Indian deity, illustrates an epic narrative, records the daily life of a prince or a common man or depicts a favorite pet or hunting companion. This volume provides an account of the fascinating interaction among the realms of the animals, mortals and immortals as represented in 38 paintings created on the Indian sub-continent between about 1400 and 1900. These works offer tantalizing glimpses into the dazzling worlds of form and colour that distinguish the traditions of Indian painting.