Abhisarika Nayika thumbnail 1
Not on display

Abhisarika Nayika

Painting
ca. 1760 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The woman braves the terrors of a dark and stormy night in order to meet her lover, and her broken ornaments lie on the ground near the threatening snakes. The painting is 'Pahari', or from the Punjab Hills. Pahari artists often depicted the theme of eight nayikas, showing ladies in different states of love and their behaviour. This nayika is called Abhisarika, a woman who goes to meet her lover.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAbhisarika Nayika (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour on paper
Brief description
Painting, Abhisarika Nayika, lady on way to tryst, opaque water-colour and gold on paper, Guler, ca. 1760
Physical description
Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, Abhisarika Nayika, a lady on her way to a tryst (an agreed meeting between lovers). She is on a hillside with a curving rim, standing beneath trees. Clouds and lightning appear in the distance and there are snakes beneath the trees.
Content description
Abhisarika Nayika, a lady on her way to a tryst (an agreed meeting between lovers). She is on a hillside with a curving rim, standing beneath trees. Clouds and lightening appear in the distance and there are snakes beneath the trees.
Styles
Gallery label
(06/2008)
LADY ON HER WAY TO A TRYST
Opaque water-colour and gold on paper
Guler, Punjab Hills
c.1760

IS.104-1951

The woman braves the terrors of a dark and stormy night in order to meet her lover, and her broken ornaments lie on the ground near the threatening snakes. Pahari artists often depicted the theme of eight nayikas, showing ladies in different states of love and their behaviour. This nayika is called Abhisarika or 'fearless'.
Object history
Obtained in the same lot as Nos 102, 103 and 105; the group was purchased for £20-10-0 in 1951. Attributed to the artist Punch in the Registry.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The woman braves the terrors of a dark and stormy night in order to meet her lover, and her broken ornaments lie on the ground near the threatening snakes. The painting is 'Pahari', or from the Punjab Hills. Pahari artists often depicted the theme of eight nayikas, showing ladies in different states of love and their behaviour. This nayika is called Abhisarika, a woman who goes to meet her lover.
Bibliographic references
  • 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. 153, cat. no. 23 (3).
  • Archer, W.G., 'Indian Painting in the Punjab Hills', London, H.M.S.O., 1952, fig. 69
Collection
Accession number
IS.104-1951

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Record createdDecember 30, 2002
Record URL
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