Artwork
An amorous couple, probably Raja Mahendra Pal of Basohli with a favorite queen
An amorous couple, probably Raja Mahendra Pal of Basohli with a favorite queen is an unspecified painting by the Pahari Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1810 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting depicts an intimate scene between a royal couple on a terrace outside a palace chamber.
- Accession no.
- 2018.84
- Credit line
- Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
About this work
Overview
This painting depicts an intimate scene between a royal couple on a terrace outside a palace chamber.
Subject & Meaning
The couple, likely Raja Mahendra Pal of Basohli and a favored queen, are shown in a private moment, their relaxed poses suggesting a genuine, unposed scene.
Technique & Style
The artwork is characterized by bright colors and fine details, typical of the Pahari style from northern India, which often depicted royal life with vivid imagery.
Context
The painting originates from the Pahari kingdoms, a region known for its rich artistic heritage and nuanced portrayals of royal life.
Artist & collection
A King Making Love in the Harem
Untitled
The king dreams of a lady, the personification of wealth, departing from him on account of his purchasing a bowl and a staff from a yogi, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-sixth Night
Shahr-Arai and her lover dallying on a bed beneath which is concealed her husband, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fortieth Night
The Dream of Zuleykha
The king dreams of a lady, the personification of wealth, departing from him on account of his purchasing a bowl and a staff from a yogi, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-sixth Night
Shri Raga, from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies)