A TILKAYAT PERFORMING THE RELIGIOUS RITUAL OF ARTI TO SHRI NATHJI
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE AMERICAN COLLECTION
Possibly Nathdwara, Rajasthan, North-Western India, 19th century

Opaque pigments, silver and gold on paper, the large vertical composition depicting a tilkayat (head priest) in front of a murti of Shri Nathji performing arti, a Hindu religious ritual of worship entailing the offer of light to one or more deities, the priest holding a silver candlestick in his hand and looking at the god above him, the icon of Shri Nathji completely clad in several strands of pearl necklaces and flower garlands, the sumptuous headdress enhanced with a large peacock's feather characteristic of this murti, a pachisi board in front of the god, the altar filled with several silver icons of cows, the scene set within black, yellow, orange, green and white rules and bright red borders, the recto plain except for later added notes in pen, 48.7cm x 33cm.

Dimensions: 48.7cm x 33cm