Unattributed. [Early Hindu Astrological Drawing] Plate 927

Unattributed.  Plate 927. [Early Hindu Astrological Drawing].

ca. 1800.  12 x 6 5/8 (paper).  Pen and ink water color drawing on laid paper. Full original hand color with gold leaf highlighting.  With text on verso.  Bottom right corner margin filled and in-painted.  Repaired tear right hand side.  Else, very good condition.  

This hand drawn and colored page provides a fascinating glimpse of astrology in India about the beginning of the nineteenth century. Along with extensive text, there are many birth charts, horoscope paintings, depictions of deities, and numerous representations of the Sun, Planets, and Stars central to this astrological system.  Early Indian astrology divided the Heavens into a series of 27 lunar asterisms based on either a single star or a group of stars. Also incorporated was the Babylonian or Greek zodiac, thus providing a wealth of concepts to be shown pictorially. The bold colors supplemented by the gold leaf outlines provide a beautiful and eye-catching example of the blending of astronomy and a belief system.