The Muharram procession thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

The Muharram procession

Painting
ca. 1795 - ca. 1805 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of a group of nine paintings. They depict a durbar (public reception) at the Murshidabad court, and various Hindu and Muslim festivals and religious scenes. A Murshidabad artist copied it, probably from an original oil painting by George Farington. He had worked in Murshidabad from May 1785 until his death there in 1788. Farington's original is lost. This painting shows the Muharram procession, in which Muslims carry 'tazias' or 'ta'ziyas' (bamboo and paper replicas of the tombs of Hasan and Husain) to the river for immersion. The festival commemorates the deaths of these two grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad. Shiah Muslims regard them as the rightful heirs to his caliphate.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Muharram procession (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Opaque watercolour on paper
Brief description
Painting; gouache, The Muharram procession, models of tombs being taken to the river for immersion, Murshidabad, ca. 1795 - ca. 1805
Physical description
The Muharram procession. The 'tazias', miniature models of the two martyrs' tombs, being taken to the river for immersion. One of nine drawings depicting a durbar at the Murshidabad court and various Hindu and Muslim festivals and religious scenes.
Dimensions
  • Height: 39.5cm
  • Width: 68cm
Style
Credit line
Purchased from Mr. T. Toon (or possibly Mr J.Joon), 38 Leicester Square
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is one of a group of nine paintings. They depict a durbar (public reception) at the Murshidabad court, and various Hindu and Muslim festivals and religious scenes. A Murshidabad artist copied it, probably from an original oil painting by George Farington. He had worked in Murshidabad from May 1785 until his death there in 1788. Farington's original is lost. This painting shows the Muharram procession, in which Muslims carry 'tazias' or 'ta'ziyas' (bamboo and paper replicas of the tombs of Hasan and Husain) to the river for immersion. The festival commemorates the deaths of these two grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad. Shiah Muslims regard them as the rightful heirs to his caliphate.
Bibliographic reference
Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992, 80 p. ISBN 0944142303
Collection
Accession number
IS.11:12-1887

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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