
Painting study · Tempera
A night scene of Shiva puja (recto); Calligraphy (verso)c. 1760–70 · Study 2013.350
Muhammad Rizavi Hindi (Indian, active mid-1700s); Ahmad al-Husaini
c. 1760–70
Recorded as Gum tempera and gold on paper, this vertical work measures 11.1 × 14.5 cm using the museum’s painting only dimensions. Explore the museum’s context and compare the format with a wall of your choice.
Museum collection reference. This work is not offered for sale by Physical Art For Crypto. Museum attribution does not imply a partnership or endorsement.
Context from the museum
Under golden stars and a crescent moon, a royal woman offers a flower garland at an open-air shrine to the Hindu god Shiva. Installed on a platform under a sapling, the stone linga believed to contain Shiva’s presence bears the bright orange traces of devotional anointments. Orange kumkum (red turmeric powder) and yellow saffron are in tiny trays before her, and she has used them to mark her forehead with the signs of her piety. The small brass ewer would contain purified water to bathe the linga. On the platform are offerings of fragrant blossoms and the light of clarified butter lamps.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
A detail to notice
The linga is a stylized phallic symbol denoting the creative capacities of Shiva.
Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected painting only measurement for A night scene of Shiva puja (recto); Calligraphy (verso) is 11.1 cm wide and 14.5 cm high, equivalent to approximately 4.4 × 5.7 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.77:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.02 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 3.7% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 144.4 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 night scene of Shiva puja (recto); Calligraphy (verso) 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 vertical composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 11.1 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?
Explore physical scale
How large would this format feel on your wall?
Use this museum work’s recorded format as a reference. Adjust a blank wall and optional frame allowance to compare proportions. The museum painting is an educational reference and is not for sale here.
Calculation: outside width = recorded width + twice your frame allowance. This is a proportion study, not an installation assessment. It excludes furniture, hardware, load capacity, depth and delivery clearance. The display image may include margins absent from the recorded measurement.
Compare formats with the studio collection
These Lei-Kol works have the closest width-to-height ratios in the current catalog. This is a geometry comparison, not a claim of artistic similarity, equivalent value, or association with the museum artist.
| Painting | Width × height | Format ratio | USD catalog price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Moon | 30 × 40 in | 0.75:1 | $1,199 |
| Gray Day | 24 × 36 in | 0.67:1 | $1,199 |
| Waterfalls | 24 × 36 in | 0.67:1 | $999 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
Related studies

1764 · Mughal India, probably Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow
Posthumous portrait of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah (reigned 1719–1748) holding a falcon (recto); Calligraphy (verso)
Muhammad Rizavi Hindi (Indian, active mid-1700s); Mahmud ibn Ishaq al-Shahabi (Persian, active mid- to late 1500s) · Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

1764 · Mughal India, probably Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow
Posthumous portrait of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah (reigned 1719–1748) holding a falcon (recto)
Muhammad Rizavi Hindi (Indian, active mid-1700s) · Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

c. 1760 · India, Mughal, 18th century
Court lady singing and playing the vina
Muhammad Rizavi Hindi (Indian, active mid-1700s) · Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

c. 1750–1800 · Mughal India, Lucknow
Vase with flower arrangement and scrollwork
Artist not recorded · Gum tempera and gold on paper
Ready to describe what you want in your own space?
Start an artwork inquiry ↗