Artwork
A Disconsolate Lady on a Terrace with Attendants
A Disconsolate Lady on a Terrace with Attendants is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1730 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2018.185
- Credit line
- Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
About this work
Overview
A Disconsolate Lady on a Terrace with Attendants is an 18th-century Indian painting originating from the royal court of the Rajput kingdom of Raghogarh. The work depicts a contemplative princess awaiting her lover, surrounded by two attendants, set against a uniquely manipulated landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The princess, lost in thought of her lover, expresses longing through gentle self-touch. One attendant wards off flies with a royal whisk, while the other reacts with astonishment, highlighting the intimate, emotional moment.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a non-realistic approach, characterized by a bright yellow sky bisected by blue to accommodate palace rooftops, and a flat, dark hill oddly juxtaposed with a peeking sun, prioritizing mood and narrative over spatial logic.
Context
Created for the Rajput kingdom of Raghogarh, this painting reflects the artistic traditions of 18th-century Indian royal courts, where emotional expression and storytelling took precedence over realistic depiction.
Legacy
This piece represents the distinctive style of Raghogarh's Rajput school, inviting viewers to explore similar works from this kingdom for more examples of India's rich, expressive 18th-century art.
Artist & collection
