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A
nayika
is in conversation with a
confidante, probably expounding on her
angst with regard to a lover or
nayak
,
while an attendant looks on. This painting
is based on the
Rasikapriya,
a devotional
text composed by Kesava Das, the poet
laureate of Raja Inderjit of Orchcha, in the
16
th
century. It expounds on the different
forms of love, ranging from angst to
ecstasy, usually yearning for her male
lover known as the
nayak
. The darkening
sky at twilight alludes to the approaching
night, heightening the mood.
The present lot embodies the finest
characteristics of the Bundi school, which
developed during the reign of Rao Surjan
Singh. Brilliant reds and yellows stand in
striking contrast against the rich green
foliage and the cool white colours of
the built forms. The Bundi style blended
Rajput and Mughal elements, as seen in
the architecture of domed
chhatris,
the
pavilion and terrace, as well as in the
treatment of the garden and the intricate
carpet and tiles. Peacocks, symbolic
of love, strut along the terrace in the
foreground.
8
CONFIDANTES IN
A PAVILION: AN
ILLUSTRATION FROM
A RASIKAPRIYA
BUNDI, CIRCA 1670
Inscribed in Nagari at the top
Gouache on paper
Image: 12 x 6.75 in (30.6 x 17.6 cm)
Rs 40,00,000 ‒ 60,00,000
$ 59,705 - 89,555
NON‒EXPORTABLE
REGISTERED ANTIQUITY
PROVENANCE
The Motichand Khajanchi Collection