Royal women shooting from a pavilionc. 1810 · Study 1955.48

Context from the museum

Two magnificent lions arrived at a pond, and the male turns back, sensing that something has alerted the deer. From a hunting lodge, a princess aims her musket in their direction. On the far banks of the pond is an abstract phallic sculpture (linga) on a spouted pedestal, indicating the sacred presence of the Hindu god Shiva. In front of the linga is an image of Shiva’s mount, the bull Nandi. The linga and bull bear traces of worship: horizontal marks in saffron, turmeric, and gold that communicate the worshiper’s religious affiliation and an inverted lotus flower. Devotion to Shiva is a prerequisite for the abundance of the land.

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

A detail to notice

On the distant horizon a European rides an elephant, while a dog runs alongside.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected sheet measurement for Royal women shooting from a pavilion is 27.3 cm wide and 34.3 cm high, equivalent to approximately 10.7 × 13.5 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.80:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.09 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 9.1% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 136.3 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 Royal women shooting from a pavilion 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 27.3 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?