Painting study · Ink painting
Grotesque Dancers Performingc. 1600 · Study 1971.88
Artist not recorded
c. 1600
Recorded as gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper, this vertical work measures 9 × 16 cm using the museum’s image 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
This scene from an unidentified manuscript depicts entertainers at the Mughal court. The dancers appear to be from the fringes of society, and they may be intended to depict tribal people or semihuman nature spirits. One is dark skinned with small elephant ears and red-rimmed eyes, wearing a white tiger-skin pelt. The female dancer wears a collar of leaves; the male figure on the right has horns, wears bells, and carries an animal-headed club that appears to be made of bone. An exuberant orchestra provides musical and vocal accompaniment below. While not an imperial production, this painting may reference the Mughal emperor Akbar’s practice of welcoming a wide range of people from all regions and traditions to his court, since he was interested in understanding their customs.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
A detail to notice
Akbar applied an aromatic paste under his arms, which stained his garment.
Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected image measurement for Grotesque Dancers Performing is 9 cm wide and 16 cm high, equivalent to approximately 3.5 × 6.3 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.56:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.01 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 3.0% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 145.5 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 Grotesque Dancers Performing in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.
- Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graffiti | 30 × 48 in | 0.63:1 | $2,199 |
| Cheesecake | 24 × 48 in | 0.50:1 | $1,099 |
| Riptide | 24 × 48 in | 0.50:1 | $1,199 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
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