AN ILLUSTRATION TO A RAGAMALA SERIES
Possibly Bundi, Rajasthan, North-Western India, late 19th - 20th century

Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting two lovers interrupted in a moment of intimacy on a palatial terrace outside the bed chamber pavilion, the male lover clenching the hand of his female counterpart distracted by something or someone in the background, outside the palace two peacocks, a symbol of love and companionship, frolicking around in the wilderness, the scene set within black and ochre yellow rules, and bright red borders marked with numerals and Devanagari inscriptions in black ink at the top, 27cm x 17.4cm.