Lord Hanuman the Monkey God

Painting

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Lord Hanuman the Monkey God

Entry/Object ID

1998.09.03

Description

The painting features Lord Hanuman, the Monkey God, in a bright red complexion standing in a commanding pose. He is depicted with multiple arms, each holding symbolic items such as a flag and a mountain. Surrounding Hanuman are smaller figures, some in reverence with hands raised, while others engage in actions of devotion.

Type of Painting

Watercolor

Artwork Details

Medium

Paper, Watercolor

Subject

Hanuman

Subject Person

Hanuman

Subject Place

Country

India

Acquisition

Accession

1998.09

Source or Donor

Derek Davenport

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Derek Davenport

Made/Created

Time Period

Late 20th century

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Region

Madhubani

Country

India

Notes

Traditionally produced by women, Madhubani/Mithila paintings are identifiable by bright colors, geometric patterning, and two-dimensionality.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Note

Location

Back Upper Left Corner

Transcription

LORD HANUMAN The Monkey God

Language

English

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Painting

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

29-5/8 in

Width

21-3/8 in

Provenance

Notes

Derek Davenport (1927-2017), West Lafayette, Indiana; donated to the Purdue University Galleries in 1998

Exhibition

Paintings from India: Historical and Modern (2019)

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition label

Label

(From Paintings from India: Historical and Modern Reuff West Feb 11-22, 2019): We see Lord Hanuman in the center surrounded by his attendants and worshipers. Many believe him to be the reincarnation of Shiva. He is known for his strength and heroic initiative, and it was with that initiative that Hanuman helped Lord Rama find Sita. Many depictions show Hanuman wielding an axe.