Kamdhenu and Sarawasti

Kamdhenu, the celestial cow, is depicted here, with Saraswati, the goddess of learning, seated on her back and Saraswati’s vehicle, the peacock, in the foreground. The scene, although set in an open meadow, is framed by a pentafoil arch and pillars in a style reminiscent of older Tanjore paintings, which recreated temple-style miniatures of gods and goddesses. Unlike the typical Tanjore painting, however, the image is not heavily ornate or stylized. The figure of Saraswati, especially, is very similar to that of Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings and prints.

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