Radha's toilette

Object Details

• Court

  Guler Court

• School/Tradition

  Pahari school

• Provenance

  At least 1916-1937

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

  From 1937

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

  Notes:

  [1] See Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, “Rajput Painting,” [book] (London: H. Milford, Oxford University Press, 1916), Vol. 1, pp. 48-49; Vol. 2, pl. LXXII B. Object is described as "Purva Raga: Radha's toilet. [...]. Collection of the author."

  See also untitled incoming receipt, undated (ca. 1937), copy in object file. The object was transferred from Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy to the Freer Gallery of Art for acquisition consideration on May 7, 1937.  Object is one of “3 Indian 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 object file for copy of “A. K. Coomaraswamy” invoice to Freer Gallery of Art, dated June 21, 1937, and marked approved on June 21, 1937. Object is one of “3 Indian paintings, Rajput” described.

  Research updated November 16, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877-1947)

• Origin

  Guler, Himachal Pradesh state, Punjab Hills, 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

  1800s, 1750s

• Name

  Coomaraswamy, Ananda K.

• Place

  Punjab Hills, Guler, Himachal Pradesh state, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Fly whisk, Music, Bathing, Ragamala, Radha

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings