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Rock Fall

2017, 10” x 14” watercolor by Jenny Badger Sultan

The long-haired cat was a middle-of-the-night image from March 14, 2018: a leopard with long, silky hair leaps up to the branch of a tree and lies down there.

The sphinx-like being in the lower center is Tutu, a late Egyptian god, son of Neith, protecting against demons. The green figure in the lower right is a much older god, Bes, patron of childbirth and protector of the household, especially women and children.

The bottom left figure is loosely based on a terra-cotta sculpture of a mother covered in snakes, a common motif in Djenne sculpture (Mali); I sketched a striking example at the De Young Museum in San Francisco that dates back to the 13th century.

Watercolor titled 'Rock Fall', by Jenny Badger Sultan. Click to enlarge
Detail of watercolor titled 'Rock Fall', by Jenny Badger Sultan.
Dream leopard
Detail of watercolor titled 'Rock Fall', by Jenny Badger Sultan.
Tutu
Detail of watercolor titled 'Rock Fall', by Jenny Badger Sultan.
Bes
Detail of watercolor titled 'Rock Fall', by Jenny Badger Sultan.
Mother and Snakes
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