Radha thumbnail 1
Radha thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Radha

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

Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, Radha, in a dark green bodice and mauve and white skirt sits on a yellow carpet with black borders and blue flowers. Her companion (sakhi) sits opposite in a green bodice and orange-red skirt. The wall is pale blue with three grey alcoves containing red apples and eating vessels.
At the base, a white and grey plinth with a 'monster-head' projection. Greenish-yellow pillars and portico with red roof. Chocolate-brown background. Rasamanjari illustration.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleRadha (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour on paper, with applied beetle-wing cases to represent jewellery.
Brief description
Painting, Radha talking to companion, Rasamanjari illustration, opaque watercolour on paper, Basohli, ca. 1660-1670
Physical description
Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, Radha, in a dark green bodice and mauve and white skirt sits on a yellow carpet with black borders and blue flowers. Her companion (sakhi) sits opposite in a green bodice and orange-red skirt. The wall is pale blue with three grey alcoves containing red apples and eating vessels.
At the base, a white and grey plinth with a 'monster-head' projection. Greenish-yellow pillars and portico with red roof. Chocolate-brown background. Rasamanjari illustration.
Dimensions
  • With border height: 237mm
  • Width: 272mm
  • Height: 182mm
  • With border width: 332mm
Red border with thin silver margin, white rules and thin darkened surround; turrets project into border.
Content description
Radha, in a dark green bodice and mauve and white skirt sits on a yellow carpet with black borders and blue flowers. Her companion sits opposite in a green bodice and orange-red skirt.
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • (handwritten in Takri)
    Translation
    'She who is proud of her beauty'
    Transliteration
    'rup garivata'
  • (handwritten on left border)
    Translation
    '34'
  • [verse from the Rasamanjari] (handwritten in Sanskrit on reverse of object)
    Translation
    'O sakhi! how should I treat my lord who compares the beauty of my eyes only with that of lotus flowers and the sweetness of my speech only with that of nectar? Forbearance is my only fault!'
Object history
From the collection of Mr. Michael Rothenstein; IS.46 to 73-1953 were purchased for £300.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
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. 37, cat. no. x
Collection
Accession number
IS.46-1953

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Record createdJuly 14, 2000
Record URL
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