A village woman watering a sacred Tulasi plant near a cow, peacock and a decorated house. Original hand drawn and painted artwork on handmade paper from the Madhubani region of India. Artist unknown. Read more about the history and techniques of Mithila art.
- Medium / technique -Vegetable dyes, paint, and ink on handmade paper
- Size - With frame is 36" x 24", artwork without frame is 30" x 20"
- Frame style – Black and gold wood frame with conservation grade acrylic glazing that protects the artwork from 99% of UV rays. Read more on how to care for your artwork.
- Backing – 100 % cotton muslin in beige
Subject Matter Details
This tranquil village scene shows a woman watering the sacred Tulasi plant (a type of basil) that is traditionally cultivated on a stone altar in the courtyard of Hindu homes. The plant is seen as an incarnation of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and whoever tends the plant (mostly women) gains spiritual merit and divine grace.
The Zebu cow on the left is wearing garlands, a common practice for religious festivals. The house on the top left is decorated with murals of flowers and geometric patterns in the traditional Mithila style. Geometric patterns are widely used in Mithila art as a border, as is the case in this artwork. Finally, the peacock is a symbol of wealth and prosperity and is also associated with the god Krishna who is widely worshipped in the Madhubani region.