Scenes from a South Indian Court: A Newly Discovered Group of 17th-Century Kalamkari Hangings

Close-up of a scene on a kalamkari hanging, of several groups of people standing close together.

Category

ROM at Home

Audience

Families, Kids

Age

6+

about

Explore an important group of South Indian textiles made in the 17th century for a South Indian ruler, possibly Tirumal Nayak of Madurai (ruled 1623-59) with senior researcher Rosemary Crill. These previously unknown, extraordinary kalamkari masterworks depict scenes from palace life, with a Hindu ruler and ladies in a palace setting and in procession with his army. This talk will place these panels in the context of other known kalamkari hangings and the elaborate decoration of the textiles and architectural settings will be discussed, as well as the probable patron and place of production.

Event recorded on August 18, 2021.

Scenes from a South Indian Court: A Newly Discovered Group of 17th-Century Kalamkari Hangings