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Women bathing before an architectural panorama

Faizullah

1765

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Mughal Painting Romanticism 18th Century Genre Scene Lucknow Mughal

Dominant colour

Women bathing before an architectural panorama is a 1765 unspecified by Faizullah, a Mughal Painting work, depicting Lucknow, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Faizullah
When & what style?: 1765 · Mughal Painting
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see women lounging in a palace pool, smoke curling from hookah pipes, while others sip from delicate cups on balconies above. Despite battles raging in the distant forts, the scene feels untouched—luxury without worry. The artist signed his name under the central pavilion, almost like he’s watching too. He plays with depth in a way that feels fresh, borrowing tricks from European art to make the garden and buildings stretch far back. To see more of this mix of Indian and European styles, look up Mughal.

The story of this work

Overview

Despite the wars waged and forts besieged in the background, life in the palace is carefree and luxurious. Some women enjoy hookahs and music on balconies, while others swim and drink liquor with abandon from Chinese porcelain cups and bottles. The artist has placed his name under the central pavilion, observing the scene across a formal garden of marigolds. The artist seems to have enjoyed experimenting with the idea of perspective, learned from European sources. He created a rapidly receding space that telescopes the view from the intimate harem quarters to the distant battlefields.