Lakshmi massaging the foot of Vishnu

Maker(s)
Artist: Composition attributed to Nainsukh (active ca. 1710-1778) Painting attributed to Manju (active late 18th century)
Historical period(s)
ca. 1765-1770
Medium
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W (painting): 25.1 Ă— 17.5 cm (9 7/8 Ă— 6 7/8 in) H x W (overall): 27.3 Ă— 18.7 cm (10 3/4 Ă— 7 3/8 in)
Geography
India, Jammu and Kashmir, Basohli
Credit Line
Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection — funds provided by the Friends of the Freer and Sackler Galleries
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S2018.1.61
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Painting

Keywords
India, Lakshmi, Ralph and Catherine Benkaim collection, Vishnu
Provenance

Kapoor Galleries, Inc., New York, New York [1]

To 2002
Gloria Katz and Willard M. Huyck Jr., Los Angeles, California [2]

2002
Sale, New York, Sotheby’s, Important Indian Paintings from the Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck Collection, March 22, 2002, lot 49: “Lakshmi massaging the foot of Vishnu” [3]

From 2002 to 2018
Catherine Glynn Benkaim, Beverly Hills, California, purchased at auction, “Important Indian Paintings from the Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck Collection,” Sotheby’s, New York, March 22, 2002, lot 49: “Lakshmi massaging the foot of Vishnu” [4]

From 2018
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, partial gift and purchase from Catherine Glynn Benkaim [5]

Notes:

[1] See Provenance Remark dated July 20, 2018 in object record.

[2] See Sotheby’s auction catalogue of the New York sale, “Important Indian Paintings from the Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck Collection” from March 22, 2002.

[3] See note 2.

[4] See note 2.

[5] See Acquisition Justification Form, object file, Collections Management Office.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Willard M. Huyck Jr. born 1945
Catherine Glynn Benkaim
Kapoor Galleries, Inc. established 1975

Inscription(s)

Verso: In devanagari gold letters on blue paper, the Sanskrit text is from the Narayana Upanishad of Atharveda. Inscribed in black ink in a different hand: “Majnu te nainsukh ki banai hoi”- (the painting) is (the joint) work of Majnu and Nainsukh/or- Painted by Majnu and Nainsukh/or Done by Majnu and Nainsukh.

Published References
  • Joan Cummins. Vishnu: Hinduism's Blue-Skinned Savior. Exh. cat. 134, 222.
Collection Area(s)
South Asian and Himalayan Art
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Terms of Use