Portrait of a Lady

This unidentified and unfinished portrait of a Hindu lady delineated with a masterly flow of line bears a regal poise and a majestic charm. She has a gentle face and wears a lightly coloured costume.

Portraiture is mainly a prerogative of the menfolk in Indian art. Women’s privacy was zealously guarded to the extent that men would not be allowed in the zenana (women's quarter).

From her dress and decor, she does not seem to be of lower birth, but has an independent status of her own. Standing in front the bed, she is probably waiting for the lover holding a flower in her hand. The painting can be a portrait of some important lady in the royal circle.