Painting study · Ink painting
Bhima’s consultation with the astrologer, from a Nala-Damayantic. 1790–1800 · Study 1936.684
Artist not recorded
c. 1790–1800
Recorded as Gum tempera and ink on paper, this horizontal work measures 33.5 × 22.2 cm using the museum’s overall 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
In the central pavilion, King Bhima, father of Princess Damayanti, receives favorable signs from his astrologers for her marriage to her beloved, Nala. In the upper left corner, King Bhima tells the good news to his daughter, while messengers inform Nala in the upper right. This lyrical series depicts scenes from an extended romantic poem of the 1100s, based on an episode from the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata . The plan to create a painted series illustrating the story was not fully realized. Forty-seven paintings were completed, but another 65, including this page, remain unfinished, revealing underdrawings and the first application of color.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
A detail to notice
This drawing is part of a series of forty-eight, most of which are held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected overall measurement for Bhima’s consultation with the astrologer, from a Nala-Damayanti is 33.5 cm wide and 22.2 cm high, equivalent to approximately 13.2 × 8.7 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.51:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.07 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 11.2% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 133.3 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 Bhima’s consultation with the astrologer, from a Nala-Damayanti 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 ink on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.
- Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 33.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bipolar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Brick and Mortar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Dominion | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
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