Musician playing the tanpura

Unknown (Indian)


Item type:
painting
Date of creation:
late 18th century
Height:
14.2 cm  (5 9/16 in.)
Width:
8.5 cm  (3 3/8 in.)
framed: 36.8 × 27.6 cm (14 1/2 × 10 7/8 in.)
Technique / Medium:
opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Place of creation:
Bhārat [India]
School:
Mughal

    Item location

  • Yale University Art Gallery
    The Vera M. and John D. MacDonald, B.A. 1927, Collection, Gift of Mrs. John D. MacDonald[Museum inv. no.: 2001.138.66]

Description

From the museum website:
The elaborate jewelry and elegant clothing identify this solitary woman as a member of the court. She holds a tanpura, a long-necked string instrument that originated in India and is used for various genres of Indian music. She is not playing the instrument; she may have paused or perhaps is waiting for a friend or lover.

Iconclass

48CC7512
person with musical instrument, musing, contemplating - CC - out of doors
48CC732
string instruments (plucked) - CC - out of doors

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Tambura [3461]

RIdIM images


Image URLs

image link 1

Notes

Period: Mughal dynasty (1526–1857)

RIdIM record id

6188