Arkivism
Princely ascetic in the forest visited by ladies
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Princely ascetic in the forest visited by ladies

c. 1760 · Gum tempera and gold on paper

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

At first glance a group of court women has gathered to visit a prince who abandoned the palace to practice yoga, as indicated by the strap around the knees of the figure seated at the right. Upon close inspection, however, the prince is being “played” by a woman dressed for the part. All the components of a pleasurable courtly Mughal gathering are present. A sumptuous carpet, bottles of alcohol, fruit, a hookah, breath-freshening paan , and a woman playing a vina have been set up in the forest as if in the palace.

Cleveland Museum of Art’s own description
Credit linePrincely ascetic in the forest visited by ladies, c. 1760. Gum tempera and gold on paper; overall: 32.7 x 26.5 cm (12 7/8 x 10 7/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund, 1971.95

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