**Originally Listed At $500**

South Asia, India, likely Rajasthan, 19th century. A lovely pair of 19th century Indian (probably Rajasthani) ink on paper drawings depicting ensembles of musicians with subtle golden highlights accentuating various details. The first presents two bearded men in turbans, one playing a sitar and another playing a dafli (tambourine). Paired with this is a second drawing that depicts a trio of seated women playing ancient Indian instruments. Two play a veena or vina - the oldest Indian string instrument from which the sitar evolved - and the third plays a percussion instrument known as the mridangam. The women present in formal poses, and their dresses are delineated with curved lines to emphasize the fabric's flowing quality. A pair of beautiful drawings with figures and their instruments simply outlined and highlighted with touches of gold paint or leaf mounted under glass in custom matching frames. Size (sight views): 5.625" L x 5.625" W (14.3 cm x 14.3 cm) Size (frames): 16.2" L x 16.2" W (41.1 cm x 41.1 cm)

Rajasthani painting primarily developed in the Hindu state of Rajasthan of western India from the 16th through the 19th centuries. Rajasthani paintings were generally created for manuscripts that were housed in boxes or albums. Hence, they were of an intimate scale, intended to be viewed when held in a viewer's hands.

Provenance: ex-John Hurter collection, Palm Springs, California, USA, purchased in Egypt in the mid-1980s and imported into the US prior to 1995

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#179164

Both drawings are mounted under glass in custom matching frames. They have not been examined outside the frames but appear to be in very good condition save normal age wear. Frames show some wear to finish, but are otherwise very nice and fit with suspension wires.