Cleveland Museum of Art

Tiered Court Scene

Date

c. 1735

Medium

Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Culture

Northern India, Delhi, Mughal court of Muhammad Shah (reigned 1719–48)

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Emperor Muhammad Shah rekindled an imperial interest in Hinduism that had not been so strong since the time of Akbar, 150 years before. He commissioned this painting that shows the acts of Rama, hero of a Hindu epic, who slays the demon of the golden city of Lanka at the top of the page. In the middle sections, various Hindu deities enjoy music, kite flying, and boating, while at the bottom the Krishna plays Holi with his lover Radha and other palace women. They shoot red-colored water at one another with plunger guns in celebration of the coming of spring. A leering sea horse monster rears its head below the golden island city of Lanka.

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