The Departure of Damayanti for Nishadha, from a Nala-Damayanti Series

Object Details

• School/Tradition

  Pahari school

• Provenance

  ?-?

  Chandulal Raina (d. 1994), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-at least 1916

  Ownership information unknown

  At least 1916-1923

  Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877-1947), method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1923

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See B. N. Goswamy and Eberhard Fischer, “The First Generation after Manaku and Nainsukh of Guler” from “Artibus Asiae. Supplementum,” vol. 48 “Masters of Indian Painting II: 1650-1900,” (Zürich: Artibus Asiae Publishers, 2011), p. 692, cat. 22 (not illustrated). The incomplete paintings from this “Nala-Damayanti” series of c. 1790 were formerly in the possession of the painter Chandulal Raina.

  Chandulal Raina of Kangra, India was a descendent of the Pahari painter, Nikka (c. 1745-1833). Nikka was the son of the Pahari painter, Nainsukh (ca. 1710-1778).

  [2] See object file for copy of The National Commission of Fine Arts purchase list, dated December 14, 1923, marked as approved on December 15, 1923. Object is one of the “7 Rajput paintings” described.

  Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy was an art historian, curator, and collector of South Asian art. Born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Coomaraswamy grew up in England where he received a doctorate in geology. Coomaraswamy was active as a geologist until 1910, when he switched his interest to the arts of Ceylon and India. He became deeply committed to introducing Western audiences to Indian art. In 1917, he accepted a curatorial post at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where he remained until his death.

  [3] See note 2.

  Research updated November 15, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Arts of the Indian Subcontinent and the Himalayas (October 16, 2004 to January 3, 2016)

  South and South East Asian Art (May 9, 1993 to February 7, 2000)

  The Arts of South Asia (May 13, 1985 to December 2, 1985)

  Hindu and Buddhist Art (April 1, 1982 to July 18, 1983)

  The Brush of the Masters: Drawings from India (October 14, 1978 to May 15, 1979)

  Centennial Exhibition, West Corridor (February 25, 1956 to July 11, 1958)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Asian Painting, 1955 (October 24, 1955 to November 28, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Asian Paintings and Sculpture (October 2, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Asian Paintings, Gallery 7 (January 10, 1945 to October 2, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Asian Paintings, Gallery 4 (May 5, 1933 to January 9, 1945)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Chandulal Raina (died 1994)

  Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877-1947)

• Origin

  Himachal Pradesh, Punjab Hills, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1800s, 1770s

• Name

  Coomaraswamy, Ananda K., Raina, Chandulal

• Place

  Punjab Hills, Himachal Pradesh, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Drums (Membranophones), Lute

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings