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Princely women visit a holy man
Princely women visit a holy man

Princely women visit a holy man

Place of OriginProbably Lucknow or Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh state, India
Dateapprox. 1720-1730
DynastyMughal period (1526-1858)
MaterialsOpaque watercolor and gold on paper
DimensionsH. 9 1/4 in x W. 5 7/8 in, H. 23.5 cm x W. 15.0 cm (image); H. 18 1/2 in x W. 13 3/8 in, H. 47.0 cm x W. 34.0 cm (overall)
Credit LineMuseum purchase, Frederick S. Whitman Trust Acquisition Fund
Object number2016.126
DepartmentSouth Asian Art
ClassificationsPainting
On View
Not on view
InscribedIn Persian, above the painting: tasvir-i darvish sannyasi (“Picture of darvish sannyasi”)
More Information
A group of women visit a venerable yogi, sensitively depicted here as an old man engaged in deep meditation with his eyes closed. He is identifiable as a mahant (abbot) by his long jata (dreadlocks) that wrap around his knees and the tiger skin he sits on. These are markers of his renunciation, seniority, and high status. The yogi’s quiet figure becomes the painting’s main subject, which is reinforced by the fly-whisk bearer, the group of women, and other yogis who respectfully stand nearby.