Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Shiva and Dayal in dated 1744.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Baroque.

Untitled by Shiva and Dayal (dated 1744) · Meaning & Museum

Accession no.: 1996.100.3
Credit line: Fletcher Fund, 1996

About this work

Two men on horseback chase a flock of cranes across a flat, golden plain, one swinging a long stick, the other holding a falcon. Made in western India in 1744 for rulers who hired artists to record their hunts. The gold flecks on the saddles were laid down one brushstroke at a time.

Subject & Meaning

Untitled (1744) by Shiva and Dayal is a landscape painting executed in opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper.

Untitled (1744) by Shiva and Dayal is a landscape painting executed in opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper. The work depicts a hunting scene that includes a crane and a horse situated within a natural setting. As a genre landscape, the composition emphasizes the surrounding terrain while introducing the narrative element of the hunt through the presence of the animals and the implied activity. The scene illustrates a hunt set within the landscape.

Technique & Style

The work Untitled by Shiva and Dayal, dated 1744, is executed in opaque watercolor with ink and gold leaf applied to paper. The support is a sheet of paper, and the surface treatment combines translucent washes of watercolor, precise ink line work, and localized gold highlighting to create a luminous effect. As a landscape painting, the composition depicts a crane and a horse within a hunting scene, employing a balanced arrangement of natural elements and a muted palette punctuated by gold accents.

The handling of line and color reflects the stylistic conventions of 18th‑century Indian miniature traditions, while the use of gold suggests a decorative emphasis typical of courtly patronage.

History & Provenance

Untitled, an opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper landscape painting, was created in 1744 by the artists Shiva and Dayal. The work depicts a crane, horse and hunting scene within a broader landscape and is classified as a painting in the landscape genre. According to its provenance, the painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently housed. No earlier ownership records or commission details are provided in the available sources.

Context

Untitled (1744) is recorded as an opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper landscape that features a crane and horse within a hunting scene. The painting is classified as a landscape genre work and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, reflecting 18th‑century Indian artistic practice. Its depiction aligns with genre conventions of the period, emphasizing naturalistic detail and decorative gold accents.

No documented critical reception or scholarly commentary is present in the available sources, suggesting that the work has not been extensively analyzed within art‑historical literature.

Overview

This untitled painting, created in Western India in 1744, employs opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper. It captures a dynamic hunting scene, featuring two horsemen in pursuit of cranes across an expansive, golden landscape. The artwork provides insight into the artistic practices and cultural interests of the region during the mid-18th century.

Artist & collection

Artist

Shiva and Dayal

Shiva and Dayal are known exclusively from a single attribution on a monumental painting dated 1744 and now in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.