a lady walking through flowers. thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

a lady walking through flowers.

Painting
17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, a lady seen in profile facing right is walking on green grass dotted with flowering plants. Her face is delicately modelled and her features are emphasised with a dark line along her facial profile. She is richly bejewelled and has red tips to her fingers and her heels. She is wearing a transparent white peshwazoverdress with narrow gold stripes open down the centre which reveals her golden paijama decorated with a pattern of crimson flowers and long gold patka with its row of bright red tulip-like flowers. On her feet she wears a pair of burgundy-coloured slippers which are also decorated with a gold pattern. She has her arms folded across her body beneath her breasts which are visible through her transparent costume her head and upper body she has a transparent odhani (veil) which is decorated with circles of gold spots. It is edged in gold and the ends are decorated with bands of green and purple stripes with golden streaks.
She is shown between two poppy-like plants which stand out against a turquoise green background that rises up to the top of the painting where an illusory sky is suggested by streaks of purple and gold which give way to a darker purple area picked out in fine gold squiggles to denote clouds.
The painting is framed in a pale brown inner border with a scrolling floral and foliated pattern in gold. This is outlined in white with bands of gold and further outlines in black and blue. The painting is mounted on an ivory-coloured border with a design of alternate pink lilies and red poppies outlined in gold. The page has strips of buff-coloured paper with an inner outline in white at its margins. A pale brown strip of paper has been added to act as a gutter for the album binding.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titlea lady walking through flowers. (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour on paper
Brief description
Painting, Small Clive Album p. 38, a lady walking through flowers, opaque watercolour on paper, Mughal, 18th century
Physical description
Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, a lady seen in profile facing right is walking on green grass dotted with flowering plants. Her face is delicately modelled and her features are emphasised with a dark line along her facial profile. She is richly bejewelled and has red tips to her fingers and her heels. She is wearing a transparent white peshwazoverdress with narrow gold stripes open down the centre which reveals her golden paijama decorated with a pattern of crimson flowers and long gold patka with its row of bright red tulip-like flowers. On her feet she wears a pair of burgundy-coloured slippers which are also decorated with a gold pattern. She has her arms folded across her body beneath her breasts which are visible through her transparent costume her head and upper body she has a transparent odhani (veil) which is decorated with circles of gold spots. It is edged in gold and the ends are decorated with bands of green and purple stripes with golden streaks.
She is shown between two poppy-like plants which stand out against a turquoise green background that rises up to the top of the painting where an illusory sky is suggested by streaks of purple and gold which give way to a darker purple area picked out in fine gold squiggles to denote clouds.
The painting is framed in a pale brown inner border with a scrolling floral and foliated pattern in gold. This is outlined in white with bands of gold and further outlines in black and blue. The painting is mounted on an ivory-coloured border with a design of alternate pink lilies and red poppies outlined in gold. The page has strips of buff-coloured paper with an inner outline in white at its margins. A pale brown strip of paper has been added to act as a gutter for the album binding.
Dimensions
  • Central painting height: 17cm
  • Central painting width: 8.5cm
  • Page height: 35.5cm
  • Page width: 23.5cm
Style
Credit line
Gift of Mr. John Goelet
Object history
This miniature painting is part of the Small Clive Album of Indian miniatures which is thought to have been given by Shuja ud-Daula, the Nawab of Avadh, to Lord Clive during his last visit to India in 1765-67. It contains 56 leaves on which are Mughal miniature paintings, drawing and flower studies on both sides. The binding is covered with an Indian brocade. The album was sold from Powis Castle at Sotheby's sale, 16-18 January 1956, lot 332A
Production
probably mid 17th century century.
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
IS.48:19/B-1956

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdNovember 27, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest