Two watercolors of ladies on a terrace, India, Jodhpur, circa 1830

Collection of William Fraser (1784 -1835)

On a white terrace with a blue sky and green trees in the background, the first watercolor depicts a lady in an orange dress sits cross-legged against a large grey cushion, smoking the hookah and listening to her female attendant. The attendant, in an olive dress, plays a yellow vina. Yellow and brown borders, with a Sanskrit inscription at top. Matted.

In the later illustration, two female companions in olive and white ankle-length dress with golden edges; one wearing a large decorated turban is the mistress. The attendant is fashioned wearing a yellow veil. Both women stand facing left, point towards the sky, presumably at the kites in the dark blue background.

From the Collection of William Fraser (1784-1835), who lived in India from 1799 to 1835, serving the British government in various capacities.