Three religious mendicant couples, from a volume containing thirty folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processions, Tanjore, ca. 1830

Painting; gouache and watercolour.

Painting, watercolour and gouache on paper from a folio of thirty Company paintings, depicting three religious mendicant couples:
1. 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.
2. A couple of non-Brahmin priest caste.
3. 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.

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