Royal women shooting from a pavilion

c. 1810

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Kota

Medium

Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Measurements

Sheet: 34.3 x 27.3 cm (13 1/2 x 10 3/4 in.); Sheet with border: 38.1 x 31.1 cm (15 x 12 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1955.48

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

On the distant horizon a European rides an elephant, while a dog runs alongside.

Description

Two magnificent lions arrived at a pond, and the male turns back, sensing that something has alerted the deer. From a hunting lodge, a princess aims her musket in their direction.

On the far banks of the pond is an abstract phallic sculpture (linga) on a spouted pedestal, indicating the sacred presence of the Hindu god Shiva. In front of the linga is an image of Shiva’s mount, the bull Nandi. The linga and bull bear traces of worship: horizontal marks in saffron, turmeric, and gold that communicate the worshiper’s religious affiliation and an inverted lotus flower. Devotion to Shiva is a prerequisite for the abundance of the land.