"A Raja Seated on a Palace Rooftop Smoking a Huqqa", Folio from a manuscript of the Raga Darshan of Anup
Unknown Artist
Dated 1214 AH/1799–1800 AD
Medium
Opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions
H. 14 5/16 in. (36.4 cm) W. 10 1/16 in. (25.6 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Louis E. and Theresa S. Seley Purchase Fund for Islamic Art and funds from various donors, 2007
Accession Number
2007.33
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folio, titled *"A Raja Seated on Palace Rooftop Smoking Huqqa"*, comes from the *Raga Darshan ofup*, a rare manuscript dated 1214 AH/1799–1800 AD. It captures a majestic raja lounging atop an ornate palace rooftop, puffing on a huqqa amid attendants, animals, and architectural splendor. Opaque watercolor on paper, measuring 14 5/16 x 10 1/16 inches, exemplifies the meticulous techniques of late 18th-century Indianly painting, with vibrant pigments layered for luminous depth and intricate details in textiles, jewelry, and landscapes. Created during a vibrant era of regional Indi...