Three Ladies on a Terrace

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Three Ladies on a Terrace

Artist Rajasthani School (Indian)

Place of OriginIndia

Datelate 18th century

DimensionsH. 8 3/8 in. (21.2 cm); W. 5 1/8 in. (12.9 cm).

MediumWatercolor on paper

ClassificationManuscripts

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number

1926.19

Not on View

Label TextThis manuscript illustration derives from paintings of royal harems and other aspects of the courtly life of the Mughals, a dynasty of Islamic rulers of India. On a blazing white marble terrace in front of three large trees, two women of the court attend an infant prince while the third prepares to nurse him. Images like this signify the important role of the harem’s women in ensuring that a male heir would continue the ruling family’s lineage. This intimate scene, with its delicate floral border and predominate use of the colors white, green, and gold, reflects the influence of the style of painting that became popular during the reign of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah (ruled 1719–1748) on later Rajasthani (Hindu) artists. When the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb forcibly took over his father's empire in 1658, he discarded the Mughals' patronage of the arts and tolerance for many religions. As a result, many artists fled the imperial school and went to work for the regional courts of Rajasthan and the Deccan, adapting the Mughal painting style to the artistic needs of their new Hindu patrons.Exhibition HistoryToledo Museum of Art, Princely Pursuits: Indian Miniature Painting, Aug. 22 - Nov. 30, 2003, pp. 16-17, repr. (col.). (author Carolyn M. Putney)