A PORTRAIT OF LAKSHMI, THE HINDU GODDESS OF GOOD FORTUNE AND WEALTH
Possibly Calcutta (Kolkata), Bengal school, Eastern India, late 19th century

Opaque pigments and gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting the four-armed Hindu devi Lakshmi seated cross-legged on a lotus, wearing a red and gold saree, heavily bejewelled and with an encrusted crown and large halo symbolising her divine nature, her hands holding two foliate branches and two lotus flower buds, a gold inscription in Bengali identifying the character as Lakshmi (লক্ষ্মী), the scene set within bold red borders, 35.4cm x 30cm.