A couple seated against two pillows engaged in sex, from an erotic series

The Cleveland Museum of Art · Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund

Museum

A couple seated against two pillows engaged in sex, from an erotic series

c. 1700–1710

Medium: gum tempera on paper
Dimensions: Page: 21.2 x 18.1 cm (8 3/8 x 7 1/8 in.); Image: 18.1 x 16.4 cm (7 1/8 x 6 7/16 in.)
Classification: Painting
Style: Indian Art
Origin: Northern India, Pahari kingdoms
Institution: The Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit: Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund

Market Intelligence

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Public evidence

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Artist index—

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Provenance

Public

?–1974

(Marjorie Buckle, Hong Kong)

1974–2018

Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection, Los Angeles

2018–

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Source provenance text

(Marjorie Buckle, Hong Kong) Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection, Los Angeles The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

The Cleveland Museum of Artconfidence 100%

Exhibitions

Public

No rights-cleared exhibition history is published.

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Unknown artist · 1675

Sourced Overview Evidence

Erotic paintings were commissioned by the patrons of painting, at times for educational purposes, mostly for pleasure. The artists would seek inspiration for the peculiar sexual positions from ancient texts such as Kamasutra and Kokashastra. In the painting, a woman rests on the lap of her paramour while their position is supported by two large bolsters put against the wall.