Palace women enjoy music by the side of a cascade
Unknown Artist
c. 1780
Medium
gum tempera, gold and silver on paper
Dimensions
image: 24.1 × 16 cm · page: 29.6 × 20.6 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
Accession Number
2018.105
About this artwork
Sitting by an artificial cascade in a palace, a woman smokes a hookah and enjoys a music performance with her attendants. She raises her left hand in appreciation of the musicians and turns toward a companion (sakhi) who also shares her enthusiasm. Three attendants stand behind her—one holding a box of betel leaves, while the other two hold a fly whisk and a fan.