Artwork
A Princess on a Terrace with Attendants at Night (recto)
A Princess on a Terrace with Attendants at Night (recto) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The canvas depicts a nocturnal terrace scene in which a princess is seated on a richly patterned rug of green and red.
About this work
Overview
The canvas depicts a nocturnal terrace scene in which a princess is seated on a richly patterned rug of green and red. She is surrounded by four attendants, one of whom plays a stringed instrument while another carries a candle on a tray. A building looms in the background, anchoring the composition within an interior‑exterior space.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a princess dressed in a white gown trimmed with gold, suggests a ceremonial or courtly occasion. The presence of musicians and servants implies a private entertainment, while the night setting and candlelight create an intimate, perhaps contemplative atmosphere.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a vivid palette of red, green, yellow and white to model space and convey atmospheric depth. Strong chiaroscuro contrasts illuminate the figures against the darkened terrace, heightening the drama and emphasizing the interplay of light from the candle and surrounding illumination.
History & Provenance
The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of night‑time interior genre painting. Its acquisition details and earlier ownership are recorded in the museum’s catalogues.
Artist & collection
A princess on a terrace with attendants at night (recto); Calligraphy (verso)
A princess with attendants on a terrace
A prince celebrating Holi with palace women on a terrace at night (recto)
A prince celebrating Holi with palace women on a terrace at night (recto); calligraphy of a quatrain (verso)
A Disconsolate Lady on a Terrace with Attendants
A blindfolded suitor is brought before a princess (recto)
