Woman receiving travelers at the door of a house

Object Details

• Court

  Malwa Court

• Provenance

  At least 1939-1940

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

  From 1940

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

  Notes:

  [1] See untitled incoming receipt, undated (ca. 1939), copy in object file. The object was transferred from Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy to the Freer Gallery of Art for acquisition consideration on April 27, 1939. Object is “No. 2” on the list of “6 Indian paintings” received.

  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 Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy invoice to Freer Gallery of Art, dated July 23, 1940, and marked approved on July 22, 1940. Object is described as, “Painting. Indian, Rajput, Deccan, early 17th century.”

  Research updated November 16, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Indian Art (January 1, 1963 to January 28, 1981)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Asian Art, Gallery 8 (July 15, 1958 to January 1, 1963)

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

  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

  Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877-1947)

• Origin

  Madhya Pradesh state, Malwa, 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

  1600s, 1650s

• Name

  Coomaraswamy, Ananda K.

• Place

  Madhya Pradesh state, Malwa, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Woman

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings