The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

Taurus, from a Mandi Astrology Series

c. 1810

attributed to Sanju

(Indian, active late 1700s-early 1800s)
Northern India, Himachal Pradesh, Pahari Kingdom of Mandi
Gum tempera and gold on paper
27 x 22.2 cm (10 5/8 x 8 3/4 in.)
Gift of Nancy and Wayne Hunnicutt 2020.432
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The oval format derives from the popularity of British cameos at the Mughal court.

Description

Standing for the astrological sign Taurus, the large-scale bull fills the space like a graceful icon behind a much smaller herd of cows. Pure white in color and in perfect profile, he has been adorned with a string of bells, a jeweled diadem, and decorative tips on his horns. A fine textile with gold leafy arabesque patterns sets him apart from oxen, dairy cows, and even the elephants in the distant background.
  • 1960s-?
    A German private collection
    September 20, 2005
    (Sotheby's, New York, NY, September 20, 2005, lot 120, sold to Nancy and Wayne Hunnicutt)
    2005-2021
    Nancy and Wayne Hunnicutt, California, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2021-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Sotheby's, New York. Indian & Southeast Asian Art: Including Modern Indian Paintings from the Wilberding Collection. 20 September 2005. Lot 120
  • {{cite web|title=Taurus, from a Mandi Astrology Series|url=false|author=Sanju|year=c. 1810|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2020.432