The Rainy Season

Gallery 331, Asian Art, third floor (Dutt Gallery)

Main Building

The Rainy Season

c. 1630-1650

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

The onset of the rainy season is a glorious time in India. "Great clouds, charged with lightning, tossed about by violent winds, discharge their soothing, life-giving rain, as if feeling compassion for the dry world below . . . frogs who had been silent begin to croak, like Brahmins reciting at the close of their daily routine." So reads part of the poignant verse written on both sides of this illustration of a rain-drenched landscape. It is rare in Indian painting to see a landscape with no figures; usually such a depiction of nature would serve only as a background for the activities of gods and men.

Gallery 331, Asian Art, third floor (Dutt Gallery)

Object Details

Title:

The Rainy Season
Page from a series of the Bhagavata Purana (Story of the Lord Vishnu)

Date:

c. 1630-1650

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Opaque watercolor and ink on paper

Dimensions:

Image: 6 7/8 × 13 1/4 inches (17.5 × 33.7 cm) Sheet: 9 3/16 × 15 3/4 inches (23.3 × 40 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

125th Anniversary Acquisition. Alvin O. Bellak Collection, 2004

Accession Number:

2004-149-18

Geography:

Made in Rajasthan, Mewar, India, Asia Probably made in Udaipur, Rajasthan, Mewar, India, Asia

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.

Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.

Gallery 331, Asian Art, third floor (Dutt Gallery)

Main Building

Museum map