An affluent Maharashtrian lady
by Sadashiv Krushna Pimpalkhare (1869-1956)
circa 1900
Oil on canvas
60 x 36 in. (152 x 92 cm.)
Born in a small village in Maharashtra Sadashiv Krushna Pimpalkhare came from a simple and modest background. He did not school and study about which the teachers complained to his brother. On enquiry it was found that the young Pimpalkhare would draw in books and on the walls of the local temple instead of studying. Seeing this interest it was decided to send him to the Sir J. J. School of Art – Bombay, where the education was free of cost. However since he was pretty young, his mother accompanied him to Mumbai. Pimpalkhare explored many kinds of art like landscapes, portraits, etc. during this time. He also dramatized the life and incidents in the life of Valmiki which made him very popular. He was offered to be the court painter of Mysore but due to the ill health of his mother he resigned from the job. His lively painting at an institute in Pune till date attracts a lot of foreign tourists.
The painting is of a typical Maharashtrian lady in traditional attire and jewelry. The gold border on the saree and the size of the nose pin and the backdrop of velvet curtains, lends the portrait an aristocracy. The lady must have been from a rich family but no information on it has been made available.