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Not currently on display at the V&A

Painting

ca. 1660 - ca. 1670 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Basohli (made)

Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, a lady (Radha) in a blue and mauve skirt complains of life in her husband's house to a companion who wears a dark red bodice, mauve skirt and green veil. Above, in the balcony, a cat sits ready to pounce on a large mouse running across the turrets. The cat and the mouse are probably a metaphor for the lady and her over-vigilant mother-in-law.
At the base a pale blue plinth with a 'monster's head' shape projecting from it. To the right an oval lake with lotuses, cranes and ducks. Red background.


Object details

Categories
Paintings
Hinduism
Religion
Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project
SCRAN
Object type
Painting
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour on paper
Opaque Watercolour
Paint
Paper
Painted
Brief description
Painting, lady blames cat for scratches inflicted by lover, opaque watercolour on paper, Basohli, ca. 1660-1670
Physical description
Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, a lady (Radha) in a blue and mauve skirt complains of life in her husband's house to a companion who wears a dark red bodice, mauve skirt and green veil. Above, in the balcony, a cat sits ready to pounce on a large mouse running across the turrets. The cat and the mouse are probably a metaphor for the lady and her over-vigilant mother-in-law.
At the base a pale blue plinth with a 'monster's head' shape projecting from it. To the right an oval lake with lotuses, cranes and ducks. Red background.
Dimensions
  • Height: 236mm
  • Width: 331mm
19/06/2013 dimensions measured as part of Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project 2013
Content description
A lady (Radha) in a blue and mauve skirt complains of life in her husband's house to a companion who wears a dark red bodice, mauve skirt and green veil. Above, in the balcony, a cat sits ready to pounce on a large mouse running across the turrets. The cat and the mouse are probably a metaphor for the lady and her over-vigilant mother-in-law.
Style
Basohli
Marks and inscriptions
  • (inscribed in Takri at top)
    Translation
    'she who is secretly another's'
    Transliteration
    'gupata parakia'
  • (inscribed in Takri on left border)
    Translation
    '21'
Object history
Given by Lady Rothenstein.
Subjects depicted
Cat
Mouse
Figures (Representations)
Deity
Women
Radha
Bibliographic references
  • Guy, J., and Swallow, D., (eds). ‘Arts of India: 1550-1900’. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990. ISBN 1851770224.p.144, pl.123.
  • Swallow, Deborah and John Guy eds. Arts of India: 1550-1900. text by Rosemary Crill, John Guy, Veronica Murphy, Susan Stronge and Deborah Swallow. London : V&A Publications, 1990. 240 p., ill. ISBN 1851770224
  • Stronge, S. "The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms", V&A, 1999 Cat. no. 59, p. 216
  • Topsfield, Andrew, An introduction to Indian Court Painting, H.M.S.O., London, 1984, 0112903835 p. 40, cat. no. 32.
  • Indian paintings from the Punjab Hills : a survey and history of Pahari miniature painting / by W. G. Archer ; foreword by Sherman E. Lee. London :Delhi: Sotheby Parke Bernet ;Oxford University Press, 1973 Number: 0856670022 p. 36, 4 (v)
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.20-1958

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Record createdJuly 14, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O41586/painting-unknown/
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