The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 24, 2025

Madhava faces a man holding a scale, folio 1 from a Madhavanala-Kamakandala

c. 1720

Northern India, Pahari kingdoms

gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Painting: 19.2 x 28.7 cm (7 9/16 x 11 5/16 in.); Page: 21.8 x 30.4 cm (8 9/16 x 11 15/16 in.)
Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.95
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

This is the first page in the series, five of which are in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

Description

In the opening page of the series, the artist sets the scene in the city of Pushpavati. The protagonist Madhava holds a stringed instrument (vina), which he plays so bewitchingly that women become entranced. His good looks and musical talent earn him extra riches, which are being presented to him at the lower left. Other Brahmin priests and members of the nobility become jealous.
  • until ?
    K. Ishwari Singh of Sirmaur
    ?–1947
    Ananda K. Coomaraswamy [1877–1947]
    ?–1973
    Rama Coomaraswamy [1929–2006]
    1973–2018
    Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection, Los Angeles
    2018–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Madhava faces a man holding a scale, folio 1 from a Madhavanala-Kamakandala|url=false|author=|year=c. 1720|access-date=24 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2018.95