A LADY ATTENDING HER DAILY TOILETTE
PROPERTY FROM THE DEXTER COLLECTION
Bundi, Rajasthan, North-Western India, ca. 1860 - 1880

Opaque pigments and gold on wasli paper, the vertical composition depicting a traditional scene in Indian paintings, a half-clad nayika putting ointments on her hair and attending her daily beauty rituals, the attendant in front of her bearing an encrusted tray with small cups and bottles, the jewellery of the nayika raised in relief with a technique of 'heaping and piling' of gold foil, similar to certain Basohli paintings using beetle wings for gemstones and raised gold leaf for setting, the composition taking place on a palatial terrace, set within yellow and white rules, and silver and bright red borders, 24.4cm x 19.5cm.