The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

Toilette of Radha

c. 1810–20

Northern India, Himachal Pradesh, Pahari Kingdom of Kangra

Gum tempera and gold on paper
Image: 21.1 x 14.5 cm (8 5/16 x 5 11/16 in.); Overall: 24.8 x 18.3 cm (9 3/4 x 7 3/16 in.)
Edward L. Whittemore Fund 1953.245
Location: Not on view

Description

Krishna spies on his beloved Radha as she dresses for the day. An attendant holds a mirror for her, while others hold a sheet and a whisk of peacock feathers. Such a poetic scene suggests that even in our most private and intimate moments, god can see us.
  • ?–1953
    (Heeramaneck Galleries, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    1953–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Ward, William. "Three Indian Paintings." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 42, no. 1 (January 1955): 12–15. Mentioned: p. 13; Reproduced: p. 14 www.jstor.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1958. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 775 archive.org
    Lee, Sherman E., and George Montgomery, ed. Rajput Painting. New York: Asia House, 1960. no. 82
    Randhawa, M. S. Kangra Paintings on Love. New Delhi: National Museum, 1962. Reproduced: fig. 49
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 240 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 240 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 311 archive.org
    Heeramaneck, Alice N. Masterpieces of Indian Painting: From the Former Collections of Nasli M. Heeramaneck. Verona, Italy: A.N. Heeramaneck, 1984. Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 98, color plate 114, p. 124
    Leach, Linda York. Indian Miniature Paintings and Drawings. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art in cooperation with Indiana University Press, 1986. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 129
  • Supernatural Love - Indian Gallery 242 Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (April 1-September 9, 2019).
    Indian Miniature Rotation (Gallery 115). The Cleveland Museum of Art (August 18, 2004-May 3, 2005).
    Rajput Painting. The Asia Society Museum, New York, NY (organizer) (November 30, 1960-January 22, 1961).
    Islamic and Indian Miniature Paintings and Manuscripts. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY (organizer) (December 19, 1955-February 19, 1956).
  • {{cite web|title=Toilette of Radha|url=false|author=|year=c. 1810–20|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1953.245