Marriage Procession
Beats in a Painting by Shubha Mudgal. Among the many priceless treasures housed in the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum in Ahmedabad is a painting from the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Collection that dates back to 18th century Murshidabad in West Bengal, the earlier capital of the former nawabs of Bengal. Seen from a distance, the painting appears to depict a stretch of land on which stand hundreds of people, dressed largely in off-white garments, with occasional splashes of bright red and golden yellow. The painting compels you to take a closer look. The painting depicts a marriage procession. Held aloft by palanquin bearers on two square palanquins open to the skies, are dancers and musicians who perform as the procession moves on. On each of the palanquin-platforms is a female singer-dancer accompanied by two male musicians. The musicians are created on the floor of the palanquin, but the women performers are upright, perhaps dancing or twirling their sashes gracefully as they dance.
Period:
18th century A.D.
Accession Number:
LDII.CHUCHI.1841
Category:
Miniature Painting and Drawings
Provenance or region:
Murshidabad, West Bengal