Prince with his mistress on a terrace at night

Probably Jaipur, circa 1800

Opaque pigments with gold on paper, gold, blue and white borders with red rules, laid down in an album page with Polier-influenced foliate decoration

8 2/3 by 6 2/3 in.; 22 by 17 cm. painting

14 by 10 2/3 in.; 35.5 by 27 cm. folio

 

Provenance

Giles Eyre (1922-2006), London, 1970s

Private collection, Sussex, 1970s-2021 

 

This painting offers an erotic turn on a fairly common subject of Indian painting: lovers in a garden terrace, entwined in each other’s arms and being entertained by musicians.  Save for this detail, the painting is reminiscent of the scene that usually illustrates Dipak Raga in Ragamala sets, an amorous scene of lovers next to a pavilion that is also commonly set at night. 

Mesmerised by the music, the scent of summer flowers illuminating the night sky beyond the balustrade, the enthroned prince, in Awadhi turban, fondles his mistress who drops a brocade slipper.