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Emperor Muhammad Shah rekindled an imperial interest in Hinduism that had not been so strong since the time of Akbar, 150 years before. He commissioned this painting that shows the acts of Rama, hero of a Hindu epic, who slays the demon of the golden city of Lanka at the top of the page. In the middle sections, various Hindu deities enjoy music, kite flying, and boating, while at the bottom the Krishna plays Holi with his lover Radha and other palace women. They shoot red-colored water at one another with plunger guns in celebration of the coming of spring.

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Details

  • Title: Tiered Court Scene
  • Creator: Chitarman II (Indian, c. 1680–с. 1750)
  • Date Created: c. 1735
  • Provenance: Michael and Georgia de Havenon, New York, NY, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Type: Painting
  • Rights: CC0
  • External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1973.237
  • Medium: opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
  • Fun Fact: A leering sea horse monster rears its head below the golden island city of Lanka.
  • Department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
  • Culture: India, Delhi, Mughal, 18th century
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Michael de Havenon
  • Collection: Indian Art
  • Accession Number: 1973.237

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