A folio from a Rasikapriya Series: Radha Listens to her Sakhi's Encouragement, Attributed to Rukn-al-Din, Rajasthan / Bikaner, circa 1690s

Collection of Dr. William K. Ehrenfeld (1934-2005), San Francisco.

Acquired directly from the Ehrenfeld collection by the current owner, 8th December 1988.

Indian Miniatures from the Ehrenfeld Collection, The American Federation of the Arts, New York

September 1985 - March 1988.

Daniel Ehnbom, Indian Miniatures: The Ehrenfeld Collection, New York, 1985, cat. no. 67.

Seated on a terrace of a white marble pavilion a nayika, imagined here as Radha the archetypal female lover, who is annoyed with her (otherwise beloved) Krishna's recent behavior. She listens to her friend

and confidante (a sakhi) gesturing imploringly, recounting his more excellent qualities. He patiently stands just out of her sight at the bottom left of the composition. A small flight of steps would lead Krishna to her, but he hesitates until Radha permits him to approach.

The Rasikapriya (The Lover's Breviary) was composed in 1591 in Braj by the poet Keshavdas (1555 –1617). The text utilizes Radha and Krishna as the archetypal male and female lovers (nayakas and

nayikas) and records the complexities of their emotions and the multiple aspects of their relationship.

This is an extremely fine miniature with its great attention to minuscule detail seen in the white architectural niches and colored textiles, which can be attributed to one of the most important Bikaneri painters of the latter 17th century - Rukn-al-Din, a muslim who came to work at the Rajput

Hindu court of Maharaja Anup Singh (r. 1764-1798) at Bikaner - painting mainly Hindu themed subjects. His style is recognizable from the treatment of the faces and clothing styles as well as the miniature's subdued color palette.