AN EROTIC SCENE: TWO LOVERS RESTING AND ADMIRING THE STARRY SKY
Possibly Mankot, Jammu, Northern India, 19th century

Opaque pigments heightened with gold on wove paper, the vertical composition depicting two naked lovers resting in a tender embrace on a typical Indian low bed, the male character smoking a huqqa (water pipe) whilst the female counterpart caresses him, to the right a sleepy attendant massaging the foot of the female character and another naked courtesan briskly getting dressed and quickly leaving the scene, her smaller size possibly indicative of a younger age, in the foreground encrusted footed trays filled with drinks, essential oils and ripe fruits, in the background a typical North Indian palatial view with fountains, quadripartite gardens and marble pavilions, set within white rules and dark blue borders, mounted on a cream white cardboard frame, the folio 21.5cm x 15cm.