Unique series of fifty-six dramatic Hindu paintings at risk of leaving the UK
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-21)

An export bar has been placed on The Devi Mahatmya - a series of paintings illustrating the tale of the Divine Mother of Hinduism

Valued at £280,000, the work is unique in the UK and presents an opportunity for the study of this genre of work

The export bar will allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the paintings for the nation

An export bar has been placed on a series of bold and colourful paintings representing the origins and triumphs of Devi, the Divine Mother of Hinduism.

A UK buyer is being sought for a near complete series of paintings that depict one of the most important narratives in Hinduism. In the two hundred year old paintings, gold and silver paint is used across the fifty-six images to portray scenes that range from quiet worship to violent battles.

Together, the paintings tell the narrative of a divine battle between good and evil. The series includes a painting showing defeated gods Vishnu and Shiva appealing for help in a scene believed to be unique to this series.

There are no other comparable series surviving in the UK, meaning that this export bar creates an unparalleled opportunity for the study of both the creation and development of such illustrated narratives.

The series of paintings is a reminder of the ongoing cultural connection between the UK and the Punjab region. Today, over a million Hindus live in the UK with this art series presenting an opportunity for their culture to be both researched and celebrated.

Culture Minister, Baroness Twycross said:

This series is not only beautiful, but unique in the United Kingdom.

With no other near-complete similar narratives existing in our country, it’s vitally important we take the chance now to keep this series in the UK and allow researchers crucial time to unlock its secrets.

Pippa Shirley, Committee member said:

In these small, jewel-like paintings, an epic unfolds before our eyes. We see the Devi, the divine mother of Hinduism in her various manifestations, as the terrifying, multi-armed Kali slaying demons in ferocious battles contrasted with scenes of courtly life, worship and serene landscapes populated by a menagerie of animals. They were prompts for story-telling, recitations of Sanskrit hymns, at weddings or family gatherings and are remarkable for their completeness. They throw light on artistic workshop practices and raise questions about social and devotional use and collecting this kind of material in the colonial period. They are also a powerful statement of divine female power. With no comparable set in the country, it is important that they remain here so they can be more fully understood and enjoyed by the widest possible audience.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/supporting-arts-museums-and-libraries/supporting-collections-and-cultural-property/reviewing-committee-0) (RCEWA).

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the paintings met the third Waverley criterion for their outstanding significance to the study of Pahari painting from the royal courts in the foothills of the Himalayas, their use of devotional practice and their use in comparison with other paintings in the genre; as well as the history of collecting and the historical practices of colonial collecting.

The decision on the export licence application for the paintings will be deferred for a period ending on 20 February 2026 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the paintings at the recommended price of £280,000 (plus VAT of £16,000). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.

ENDS

Notes to editors
- Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the paintings should contact the RCEWA on xx-xxxx-xxxx or xxx@xxx.xx.
- Details of the ITEM are as follows: A group of 56 paintings narrating the Devi Mahatmya. The series is almost completely intact, containing 56 pages out of an original 59. Inscriptions in Sanskrit and Hindi on the cover sheets describe the subjects of the individual paintings. The materials are opaque pigments and gold and silver paint on paper. Each page measures approximately 23 x 30 cm. They date to circa 1810 and were painted in the Kangra region of Punjab, India. The name of the artist or family workshop is yet to be determined. The group of paintings are in excellent condition.
- Provenance: With Spink and Son, London from the mid-1980s having previously been in the family collection of Dr Alma Camruddin Latifi, CIE, OBE, MA, LLM Cantab., LLD Dublin (1879-1959). Latifi lived between the UK and India and held administrative, judicial, secretariat, and political offices in the British Indian government.
- The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.