Page 38 - Bonhams NYC Indian and Himalayan Art March 2019

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KRISHNA SPYING ON RADHA DUENNA AND COURTESANS NEGOTIATING WITH SUITORS
NURPUR, CIRCA 1720 BIKANER, CIRCA 1700
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper.
7 5/8 x 11 in. (19.3 x 28 cm) Image: 6 7/8 x 4 1/2 in. (17.5 x 11.5 cm);
Folio: 8 1/4 x 5 7/8 in. (20.9 x 14.9 cm)
$10,000 - 15,000
$15,000 - 20,000
Unaware of mischievous Krishna hanging over the palace wall, Radha
is enjoying the company of her courtiers within the covered pavilion. In In this finely painted scene, the wise and watchful eyes of the duenna
order to avoid alerting the maiden hidden behind the door on the left, are fixed on the two suitors beseeching entry into the pavilion. The
Krishna scaled the palace wall if only to steal a glimpse of his beloved handsome lord at the front has received a tilaka on the forehead from
Radha. one of the courtesans, while another turns to the duenna, seemingly
hopeful she will invite him in. Meanwhile, a second noble bows his
This folio appears to be from a later Rasamanjari series (or perhaps head in respect to the duenna, crossing his arms submissively, hoping
a one-off Nayika painting) than those dated 1710-1715, (Goswamy she will approve of his mate who signals for the duenna’s decision.
& Fischer, Masters of Indian Paintings: 1650-1900, Zurich, 2011,
pp.455-7, figs.11-3). Krishna’s crown type relates directly to one worn Exhibited
by Hanuman in a Nurpur series (Archer, Indian Paintings of the Punjab Blumen, Bäume, Göttergärten, Völkerkunde-Museum, Hamburg, 17
Hills, London, 1973, p.398, nos.17(ii)), also in a scene of Sita’s abduc- March - 27 October 2013.
tion, and one worn by Durga, dated 1720-1730(ibid., no.18).
Provenance
Provenance Private German Collection
Sotheby’s, London, 11 December 1973, lot 340
Tooth & Sons., London
The Collection of Peter Cochrane
Bonhams, London, 6 April 2006, lot 327

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