Rajasthani, Nayika by Moonlight, 1800s, Gouache & Watercolor

Details

Description

Title:

Signed Rajasthani Miniature Painting – Nayika by Moonlight

India (Jaipur–Kishangarh circle), early–mid 19th century

Pigments and gold on paper
… Read more Title:

Signed Rajasthani Miniature Painting – Nayika by Moonlight

India (Jaipur–Kishangarh circle), early–mid 19th century

Pigments and gold on paper
Signed in Devanagari: “Śyām (Shyam)”



A finely executed Rajasthani miniature painting depicting an elegant nayika seated beside a lotus pond under moonlight. The figure is shown in a contemplative pose, gazing upward toward a crescent moon set against a deep cobalt-blue night sky. The composition evokes the classical Indian aesthetic of śṛṅgāra rasa (romantic longing), a central theme in North Indian court painting.

The female figure is delicately rendered, wearing a white garment richly embellished with gold detailing, complemented by a deep blue shawl and fine jewelry. The scene is framed by a traditional multi-band border in red, white, and black, with traces of gold leaf, characteristic of high-quality Rajasthani miniatures of the period.

Signature:

The painting is signed in Devanagari script in the lower right corner with the name:

> श्याम (Śyām / Shyam)

The signature is executed in the same red-brown pigment and with the same brushwork as the painted outlines, indicating that it is original and contemporaneous with the work. Such abbreviated, monogram-like signatures are typical of Rajasthani court workshops in the 19th century.

Attribution:

Based on stylistic features, palette, iconography, and the form of the signature, the painting can be attributed to:

> Shyam (Śyām), Rajasthani school, Jaipur–Kishangarh circle, first half of the 19th century

While the name Shyam was used by more than one painter in Rajasthan during this period, the signature confirms the work as authored rather than anonymous, an important distinction for collectors of Indian miniature painting.

Condition:

Good overall condition, with gentle age-related patina. Colors remain vibrant, and gold details show natural oxidation consistent with age. Later frame.

Why This Piece Matters

Signed 19th-century Indian miniature

Classic nayika iconography under moonlight

Refined Rajasthani court style

Decorative and collectible, suitable for both traditional and contemporary interior\. See less