Tilly Kettle, 1735–1786, British, active in India (1769–76)
Title:
A Woman Holding a Hookah at Faizabad, India
Date:
1772
Materials & Techniques:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
76 3/4 × 47 3/4 inches (194.9 × 121.3 cm)
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1981.25.385
Gallery Label:
While working as an artist in the court of Shuja-ud-Daula, Kettle painted this intriguing image of a woman. Despite his detailed renderings of her red and gold sari and her elaborate jewelry, and the precision of her gaze and her pose, her identity remains a mystery. This may be a member of the household, an entertainer at court, or a representation of ideal beauty. An X-ray taken by conservators reveals that Kettle altered his composition, simplifying the architecture and rearranging the background figures. He even cut off part of the left side of the canvas, possibly to remove another figure. Such changes may reflect the desire of either the artist or his patron to present the woman on her own. Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2025