A page from a Book of Dreams/Omens

Object Details

• School/Tradition

  Mewar school

• Label

  According to this folio from a 'Book of Dreams,' a meditating ascetic in a lavender-tinged dawn landscape foretells health, prosperity, and happiness. Numbered 62 and classified as a shrestha (noble or excellent) omen, the folio belongs to a large dispersed series from Mewar related to the interpretation of dreams and omens. There must have been a special interest in dreams and omens at the Mewar court. Another complete 'Book of Dreams' is in the Government Museum of Udaipur.

• Provenance

  1966

  Sale, London, Sotheby’s, Western and Oriental Manuscripts and Miniatures, December 12, 1966, lot. 100: “A Sadhu outside his Hut” [1]

  From 1966 to 2001

  Ralph Benkaim (1914-2001), Beverly Hills, California, purchased at auction, “Western and Oriental Manuscripts and Miniatures,” London, December 12, 1966, lot no. 100, “A Sadhu outside his Hut” [2]

  From 2001 to 2018

  Catherine Glynn Benkaim, Beverly Hills, California, by inheritance from Ralph Benkaim in 2001

  From 2018

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, partial gift and purchase from Catherine Glynn Benkaim

  Notes:

  [1] Ralph Benkaim purchased the painting from Sotheby’s London, December 1966, several years before the Indian government classified paintings as antiquities, according to his personal records, as relayed by Catherine Glynn Benkaim.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Ralph and Catherine Benkaim

  Catherine Glynn Benkaim

• Origin

  Mewar, Rajasthan state, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection — funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1710s, 1720s

• Name

  Benkaim, Ralph and Catherine, Benkaim, Catherine Glynn

• Place

  Rajasthan state, Mewar, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Landscapes, Art, Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection, Meditation, Ascetic

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings