Artwork Page for A princess reclining on a terrace with attendants

Details / Information for A princess reclining on a terrace with attendants

A princess reclining on a terrace with attendants

c. 1730–1740

India, Mughal, 18th century

Medium
Gum tempera and gold on paper
Measurements
Page: 20.6 x 30.6 cm (8 1/8 x 12 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection 2013.338
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

White is the color worn by widows.

Description

This scene presents an idealized view of the life of a Mughal princess. Bejeweled and dressed in costly garments, she reclines on a couch set up on a white marble terrace. She watches two musicians sing and clap time, and a companion pours for her a cup of liquor. Two attendants stand behind, one waving a whisk to keep away the insects and another holding a box of paan, a betel-leaf preparation for freshening the breath. At the far right an older woman of the harem holds a fan while enjoying a hookah.
A horizontally oriented gum tempera and gold painting depicts seven figures on a white terrace. At the center, a woman with medium skin tone reclines on a gold-patterned daybed. To our left, three women with medium skin tones sit and kneel; one plays a stringed instrument. To our right, two women stand while an older woman sits smoking a pipe. Rolling green hills and a dark, orange-streaked sky fill the background.

A princess reclining on a terrace with attendants

c. 1730–1740

India, Mughal, 18th century

See Also

  • Collection
    Indian
  • Department
    Indian and Southeast Asian Art
  • Type of artwork
    Painting
  • Medium
    Tempera
  • Credit line
    Gift In Honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by Exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork