The Marital Bliss of Nala and Damayanti: Folio from a Nala-Damayanti Series
Medium
Ink and opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions
Page: 11 1/2 x 15 9/16 in. (29.2 x 39.5 cm) Image: 8 3/4 x 13 1/8 in. (22.2 x 33.3 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture
India (Kangra, Himachal Pradesh)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1918
Accession Number
18.85.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folio from around 1800–1810 captures a tender moment from the ancient Indian epic tale of Nala and Damayanti, two legendary lovers whose story of devotion, separation, and reunion has inspired artists for centuries. Created in the Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh by the artist Ranjha—part of the first generation following the renowned Pahari masters Manaku and Nainsukh—the painting belongs to a larger series illustrating their marital bliss. It reflects the refined courtly culture of the Punjab Hills, where such narrative series were commissioned to celebrate romantic and spiri...
About the Artist
Ranjha|First generation after Manaku and Nainsukh ( | ) · | – |
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