Artwork
A deceitful lady
A deceitful lady is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A painting illustrating a scene from Bhanu Datta's poem Rasamanjari, depicting a woman's deceptive gesture to manipulate her returning lover.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is an 'indiscriminate mistress' whose lover is away, according to the poem. However, the painting subverts this by showing the lover's return. The woman applies chilli powder to her eyes to feign crying, illustrating a complex, potentially duplicitous aspect of love and relationships as explored in the poem.
Technique & Style
The painting utilizes a style that can be related to sfumato, a technique characterized by soft, hazy effects and subtle transitions between light and dark, though the primary description focuses on the narrative rather than the stylistic elements.
History & Provenance
Originates from an illustration of Bhanu Datta's Rasamanjari, a poem categorizing types of lovers. Specific historical or ownership details of the painting are not provided.
Context
Part of a broader artistic tradition illustrating literary works, specifically Rasamanjari, which offers insights into perceptions of love and relationships in its cultural context.
Legacy
Contributes to the visual and literary exploration of complex relationships, with its narrative twist potentially influencing or reflecting contemporary views on love and deception.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
