From Library Journal
The theme of both mundane and religious animals in Indian painting is the subject of this catalog for an exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago this spring. The result is a delightful and colorful bestiary drawn from illuminated manuscripts, painted borders, and individual works from royal albums. These paintings were created between 1475 and 1900 and are part of the permanent collection of the Art Institute. Pal, visiting curator of Indian and Himalayan art at the institute, remarks in the introduction, "the painted world of the Mughals and Rajputs preserves for us extraordinary human images of daily encounters between men and animals." Each one of the 38 full-color entries is beautifully reproduced and information about region, provenance, medium, and size is provided. All the artists are anonymous; Seid, the exhibition coordinator, gives the description of the imagery in each painting. For the price, this slim volume is a good addition to any art collection.DRavi Shenoy, Naperville P.L., IL
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
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. Lavishly illustrated in full coluor, The Holy Cow and Other Animals 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 color that distinguish the traditions of Indian painting. Pratapaditya Pal is a renowned scholar and visiting curator of Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian art at the Art Institute of Chicago. Betty Seid is exhibition coordinator and researcher in the museum's Department of Asian Art.
