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A prince conversing with a woman while taking refreshments on a terrace (recto)

Unknown

1715

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque Mughal Painting 18th Century Genre Scene

Dominant colour

A prince conversing with a woman while taking refreshments on a terrace (recto) is a 1715 unspecified by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1715 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a prince and a woman on a terrace, sharing wine and fruit. A servant holds a cloth behind them, while others fan the air with peacock feathers. A small box on the carpet holds betel nut packets. This painting shows how Mughal royalty relaxed—shoes off, jewels nearby, tiny cups for strong liquor. The details, like the blue-and-white cup, hint at trade with China. No one knows who painted it, but the careful brushwork feels like a private moment, not a grand scene. To see more like this, look up Mughal India, Indian art.

The story of this work

Overview

The carpet turns a terrace into a space where a prince can enjoy the company of women over wine and fruits. A covered box on the carpet contains aromatic betel nut packets for pleasurable chewing. He has removed his shoes, which are left on the marble step. A princess pours liquor from a golden bottle into a tiny blue-and-white ceramic cup. The pair’s royal status is indicated by the attendants who hold the white cloth and peacock-feather whisks. Two other women bring jewels and a vial of perfume to be inspected and discussed by the royal connoisseurs.