A Kathak dancer

Details

Lucknow School, circa 1810
A Kathak dancer
with inscription 'A dancing Girl/she has just been whirling/round with great swiftness' (on the reverse)
pencil, pen and black ink and watercolour heightened with bodycolour and gold, within the artist's border
11¾in. x 8¼in. (29.8cm. x 20.9cm.)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

The girl portrayed can be identified as dancing in the Jaipar tradition of Kathak, favoured by the royal courts of northern India. The dancer wears a swirling skirt; this dramatised the multiple pirouettes which were the dance's defining feature. She would sometimes have had ghungroos secured to her ankles - bells which marked the rhythmic beat.

Please see lot 112 for a note on the Lucknow School.

More from Arts of India

View All