The beloved (Radha) in conversation with her confidante from a Rasikapriya

Object Details

• Court

  Mughal Court

• School/Tradition

  Mughal school

• Provenance

  ?-1931

  Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877-1947), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  From 1931

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See object file for copy of Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, Boston, MA invoice to Freer Gallery of Art, dated January 8, 1931, and marked approved on January 8, 1931. Object is one of the, “2 Rasikapriya 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.

  [2] See note 1.

  Research updated November 15, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  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)

  Untitled Exhibition, Shahnama and Chinese Art (March 24, 1930 to May 5, 1933)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877-1947)

• Origin

  India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1610s, 1620s

• Name

  Coomaraswamy, Ananda K.

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858), Rasikapriya, Radha

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians, Hindus

• Object Type

  Paintings