{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O20209"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O20209/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GJ9507/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GJ9507/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GJ9507","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011ET4271","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AV2745","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O20209/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O20209","accessionNumber":"IS.39:8-1987","objectType":"Painting","titles":[{"title":"Three religious mendicant couples","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. This one comes from a volume containing 30 folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processional scenes. It shows three religious mendicant (begging) couples. The couple on the left are non-Brahmin Vaishnavites. They are followers of the  philosopher Ramanuja, who revitalised Vaishnavism in the 11th century and whose image appears on the man's flag. The identifying inscription is in Telugu. The couple in the middle belong to a non-Brahmin priest caste, and the inscription below is in Tamil. The third couple are non-Brahmin mendicants (beggars). The man is blowing a conch shell and holding a begging bowl. The woman is carrying a skin bag and holding a peacock-feather fan (<i>morchhal</i>). There is a lamp on a stand between them. The inscription is in Telugu.","physicalDescription":"Painting, watercolour and gouache on paper from a folio of thirty Company paintings, depicting three religious mendicant couples:\r\n1. A non-Brahmin Vaishnavite couple, followers of the philosopher Ramanuja, founder of Shrivaishnavism; the man carrying a small banner depicting the philosopher; both holding begging bowls.\r\n2. A couple of non-Brahmin priest caste.\r\n3. A non-Brahmin mendicant priest and woman; the man blowing a conch-shell and holding a begging bowl, the woman carrying a skin bag and holding a peacock-feather fan; between them, a lamp burning on a stand.\nOne of a volume of thirty folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and procession scenes.\r\n1. A Tamil Sonarta Brahmin; the man carrying a palm-leaf manuscript, the woman a waterpot.\r\n2. A Tamil Iyengar Brahmin. \r\n3. A couple, possibly fan-makers, each holding a fan.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"watercolour","id":"x33202"},{"text":"gouache","id":"AAT70114"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painting","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Watercolour and gouache on paper","categories":[{"text":"ELISE","id":"THES48961"},{"text":"Access to Images","id":""},{"text":"Images Online","id":"THES48937"},{"text":"Indian Company Paintings","id":"THES49045"},{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"}],"styles":[{"text":"Company","id":"AAT18959"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2013GJ9507","2011ET4271","2006AV2745"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES403722"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Painting","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Tanjore","id":"x32011"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1830","earliest":"1825-01-01","latest":"1834-12-31"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"39.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"58.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Gentoo sautaunee'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"English","medium":"pencil","method":"","position":"Under Figures 1& 2","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Inscription; decoration","note":"Inscription; decoration; English; Under Figures 1& 2; pencil"},{"content":"'Malabar Pandaurum'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"English","medium":"pencil","method":"","position":"Under Figures 3 & 4","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Inscription; decoration","note":"Inscription; decoration; English; Under Figures 3 & 4; pencil"},{"content":"'Gentoo Dausary'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"English","medium":"pencil","method":"","position":"Under Figures 5 & 6","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Inscription; decoration","note":"Inscription; decoration; English; Under Figures 5 & 6; pencil"},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"Telegu","medium":"ink","method":"","position":"Under figures 5 & 6","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Inscription; decoration","note":"Inscription; decoration; Telegu; Under figures 5 & 6; ink"},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"Telegu","medium":"ink","method":"","position":"Under figures 1 & 2","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Inscription; decoration","note":"Inscription; decoration; Telegu; Under figures 1 & 2; ink"},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"Tamil","medium":"ink","method":"","position":"Under figures 3 & 4","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Inscription; decoration","note":"Inscription; decoration; Tamil; Under figures 3 & 4; ink"}],"objectHistory":"From a volume containing thirty folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processions. Bought from Mr. G. Goolden who had it from his late cousin Richard Goolden. RP 87/672","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Painting; gouache and watercolour, Three religious mendicant couples, from a volume containing thirty folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processions, Tanjore, ca. 1830","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Archer, Mildred. <u> Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period</u> \r\nVictoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992, 59 - 65 p. ISBN 0944142303\r\n"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"castes","id":"AAT55480"},{"text":"beggars","id":"AAT188618"},{"text":"priests","id":"AAT25774"},{"text":"shells","id":"x30562"},{"text":"lamps","id":"AAT37630"},{"text":"feather","id":"AAT11809"},{"text":"fans","id":"AAT258857"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.39:8-1987"],"accessionNumberNum":"39","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1987,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-26","recordCreationDate":"2000-01-24","availableToBook":false}}