A Lady on a Terrace, by Mohammadi
An Illustration to a Nayika Series
Mandi, India
1855
Tempera on paper
Inscribed on reverese in Devanagari “S[amvat] 31 re soj pra[vishte] 1 sayeri di na najra ra mandi shri sarkar chatere mahamadiye kita droga kapuru” Presented in the Mandi court to...
Inscribed on reverese in Devanagari
“S[amvat] 31 re soj pra[vishte] 1 sayeri di na najra ra mandi shri sarkar chatere mahamadiye kita droga kapuru”
Presented in the Mandi court to the incharge Kapuru on the 1st day of the summer season in the year 31 [corresponding to CE 1855] by the painter Mohammadi.
Further inscribed on the reverse in Urdu
'ye tasweer ….. musavvar mohammadi ki hai'
This painting is executed by the painter Mohammadi
This is a rare example of a signed painting by the artist Mohammadi of Mandi, the disciple of Sajnu. The three-quarter face executed by the master painter is one of the very few paintings done in this manner, which have so far come to light. The painting might have been made by the artist as a present to his patron, announcing the commencement of the summer season. The painter has signified the heat of the summer season by the fan held in the hand of the lady, as well as the warm blue hue in the background. An unusual elelment of the painting is the snake that can be seen appearing over the terrace balustrade in the background. Although there is no inscription on the verso which would explain the reason behind his presence in the composition, it is possibly also symbolic of the heat of the summer season.