An illustration from the Rasikapriya of Keshavdas: Abhisarika Nayika, India, Rajasthan, Bikaner, circa 1680-90

Ex-Bikaner Royal Collection

This finely painted illustration is based on the text of the Rasikapriya, an epic poem based on themes of nayakas and nayikas, written in 1591 by the Sanskrit scholar Keshav Das. He was court poet to Raja Madhukar Shah of Orchha in the Malwa region of central India. Abhisarika Nayika is the heroine who boldly sets out to go and meet her lover. The painting depicts some of the obstacles faced by the nayika on her way. Here she stands in a landscape with snakes entwined around her feet. Two demons in the form of animal-headed ladies stand before her. The artist has included a pair of lions in the middle distance to the left of a rocky formation and a seated yogi on the right.

A Rasikapriya illustration attributed to the artist Nuruddin and dated circa 1685 is in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (1981.371.1). A further painting by Ibrahim from a series dated to 1692 is in the Brooklyn Museum, New York (81.192.3)

Another similarly dated Rasikapriya folio from Bikaner depicting Krishna and Radha sold at Christie’s, New York, 21 September 2007, lot 2. A slightly later illustration dated to circa 1690-1700 and attributed to Nuruddin and his circle, formerly in the collection of Betsy Salinger, sold in these Rooms, 26 October 2022, lot 60.