Month of Jyeshtha
Description
From a set of Baramasa paintings.
Bundi and Kotah artists have been prolific in the creation of the Baramasa1 and Ragamala series of paintings and have adopted very similar compositions for each of the themes. This painting is from one such dispersed Baramasa set. It includes lush green foliage, birds and animals, hillocks and rivers, architecture, and human beings, each being an important part of the drama.
The agony of the summer heat is depicted more through suggestion than through a realistic representation of the season. The inspiration for the imagery of this season must have been derived from the Ritusamhara of Kalidasa.2 Describing the summer season he writes that the peacock who has sheltered beneath the peacock’s parasol of plums.
The sun is shining brightly in the sky, through the thick green vegetation. The elephant shelters the lion cub just as the snake is sheltered by the peacock. The hunters and fowlers sitting under the tree let the deer and the birds roam peacefully. The hero and heroine enjoy the cool of the water fountain, while the ducks enjoy its spray. In keeping with the tradition of Kotah artists, the Blue God takes the role of hero and is seated on the balcony of the second floor with his beloved. His face is highlighted by a circular white shadow and the tender faces of the fair-complexioned ladies are highlighted by dark shadows.
Collection
Indian Miniature Paintings
Object Type
Miniature Painting
Material
Paper
Schools/Culture/Period
Rajasthani
Technique
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Date
Circa 1760 CE
Location
Kotah
Dimension
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