Raja with his beloved

c. 1790–1800

Northern India, Pahari kingdoms

Medium

Gum tempera and gold on paper

Measurements

Overall: 18.1 x 13.4 cm (7 1/8 x 5 1/4 in.); with borders: 18.3 x 13.4 cm (7 3/16 x 5 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Bequest of Mrs. Severance A. Millikin 1989.336

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

The lovers are feeding betel leaf packets (paan), a mild stimulant and breath freshener, to each other.

Description

The viewer looks through a palace window onto an idyllic scene on an outdoor terrace. A team of attendants minister to a royal couple on a swing. At the upper left one woman keeps flies away with a long-tailed whisk. Next to her, a woman in orange keeps the swing in gentle motion. On the other side, at the lower right, a woman provides a foot massage. At the upper right, one woman holds out a dish of paan; another has small bottles of wine, and another has a fan to provide extra breeze. Finally, a woman in a lavender sari gazes upon the beauty of the scene in admiration.