A group of women in ecstasy before Madhava, folio 4 from a Madhavanala-Kamakandalac. 1720 · Study 2018.91

Context from the museum

The raptures of Madhava’s audience intensify. As he plays, the music becomes increasingly climactic. Several women stand immobilized; others make emotive gestures. Some faint, while others feel compelled to remove their clothes and jewelry. Written by a Sufi Muslim poet embracing mysticism, the story shows how devotees should feel toward Allah, god of Islam. In the Hindu courts of Pahari India, however, the story provided entertainment for the educated elite. The women’s ecstasies can also be viewed in the context of the Hindu devotional movement ( bhakti ), characterized by using poetry and art to stir a sense of erotic love for Krishna or Rama.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Mesmerized women sitting by the well are removing their jewelry.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected image measurement for A group of women in ecstasy before Madhava, folio 4 from a Madhavanala-Kamakandala is 28.3 cm wide and 19.1 cm high, equivalent to approximately 11.1 × 7.5 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.48:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.05 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 9.4% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 135.8 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With A group of women in ecstasy before Madhava, folio 4 from a Madhavanala-Kamakandala in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, gum tempera and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 28.3 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?