Lot 247: A NORTH INDIAN SIKH EROTIC MINIATURE PAINTING, 18TH/19TH CENTURY.
1 view
An Indian miniature painting executed in opaque pigments and gold on paper, originating from North India and exhibiting the stylistic characteristics of the Rajput schools, possibly Mewar or Marwar. The central composition depicts an intimate scene between a royal couple on a palace terrace at night. The male figure is portrayed with a beard, wearing a translucent white jama, multiple strands of pearl jewellery, and a red turban adorned with a feather. He is shown in an amorous embrace with a female consort who is dressed in a yellow choli, a blue odhani, and a patterned brown ghagra. The couple is seated upon a purple rug with a blue floral border, beside which lies a sheathed dagger and several small vessels. The scene is set against a dark background under a draped orange canopy decorated with floral motifs, with stylized banana leaves and flowering bushes visible to the right.
Approximately 26.5 x 18.1cm
Condition report:
The painting shows signs of age consistent with its period. There is visible wear and several small chips to the outer red border, with minor fraying at the edges. A rectangular area of pigment loss or repair is present in the lower-left quadrant within the orange floral field. General surface dirt and minor abrasions are visible across the paper surface, although the central figures and gold heightening remain well-preserved and the colours are bright.
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