A Matronly Woman

Title
A Matronly Woman
Year/Period
19th century
Region
India
Dimension
Frame size: 36 x 28.5 cm,
Image size: 28 x 21.6 cm
Accession No.
2013-00138
Collection of

This is a rare illustration of a south Indian matron, standing full frontal against European looking buildings in the background; her arms akimbo; dressed in a red sari with zari border together with traditional, large pieces of gold jewellery including a girdle. The painting resonates with the power, wisdom and authority that typify the matriarch in south Indian households; much like the matriarchal Malayalee woman or aachi of the Chettiar community.