The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 18, 2024

A prince conversing with a woman while taking refreshments on a terrace (recto); Calligraphy (verso)

A prince conversing with a woman while taking refreshments on a terrace (recto); Calligraphy (verso)

c. 1710–20
Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Page: 30.5 x 24.1 cm (12 x 9 1/2 in.)
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 2013.335
Location: 242B Indian Painting

Did You Know?

The prince removed his shoes before joining the picnic on the carpeted terrace.

Description

The carpet turns a terrace into a space where a prince can enjoy the company of women over wine and fruits. A covered box on the carpet contains aromatic betel nut packets for pleasurable chewing. He has removed his shoes, which are left on the marble step.

A princess pours liquor from a golden bottle into a tiny blue-and-white ceramic cup. The pair’s royal status is indicated by the attendants who hold the white cloth and peacock-feather whisks. Two other women bring jewels and a vial of perfume to be inspected and discussed by the royal connoisseurs.
  • ?–1849
    Sir Charles Forbes, 7th Baronet [1773–1849], Bengal, London, and Scotland, by descent to his great-grandson, Colonel Sir John Forbes
    ?–1962
    Colonel Sir John Stewart Forbes [1901–1984], Baronet, DSO, DL, Allargue House, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK, consigned to Sotheby's London for sale
    10 December 1962
    (Sotheby’s, London, Western and Oriental Manuscripts and Miniatures, 10 December 1962, lot 9, sold to Ralph Benkaim)
    1962–2013
    Ralph Benkaim [1914-–2001] and Catherine Glynn Benkaim [b. 1946], Beverly Hills, CA, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2013–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Mace, Sonya Rhie, Mohsen Ashtiany, Catherine Glynn, Pedro Moura Carvalho, Marcus Fraser, and Ruby Lal. Mughal Paintings: Art and Stories: the Cleveland Museum of Art. London: D Giles Limited, 2016. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 74, p. 298
  • Art and Stories from Mughal India. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (July 31-October 23, 2016). (2013.335.a only)
  • {{cite web|title=A prince conversing with a woman while taking refreshments on a terrace (recto); Calligraphy (verso)|url=false|author=|year=c. 1710–20|access-date=18 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2013.335