Modeled delightfully with a round face balanced by a broad forehead, and further, by a ‘bindi’ in its centre and a diamond-studded pendant above, deep thoughtful eyes with elegantly curving eyebrows, a sharp nose and cute tempting lips, receding chin and a well defined neck, and a patch of shade stretched over the chin and the neck giving them further projection, and sensuously cast breasts and belly, the young damsel, with the feast of her beauty and tempting charms laid, seems to await her love to reach her and enjoy it, though instead of him, a male peacock, incidentally or intentionally, has slipped into her chamber whether for taking back from the damsel its feather or for feeding upon what she has laid for her love’s enjoyment.
The portrait is superb in anatomical balance, proportions, and figural grace. Adorned elegantly in few ornaments, an elegant necklace and an auspicious gold chain characteristic to her marital status, a pendant on her forehead, a ring on her left hand finger, and a pair of ear-ornaments, besides her glass-bangles, obviously not over-adorned like a courtesan, and clad gracefully from toe to her head, though in expensive wears, ‘lehanga’ – a wide skirting lower wear, blouse, and ‘odhani’ – sash, all woven of rich silk and gold-thread, the portrayed figure represents a woman from society’s upper strata, characteristic to the late nineteenth century feudatory or other rich that had time to love as also love’s understanding. Quite skillfully, the portraitist has discovered most of his forms from the carpet below to the sky or void above, or wall-space behind, architecture, drapery, jar and goblet as also the tray carrying them and even the young lady’s costume, using various tints of maroon or its magenta-type components.
This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.
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