Dancing Minstrel or Gaddi Shepherd

18th century

Not on view

Wandering minstrels appear in many schools of Indian painting and represent itinerant holy men or dervishes who roam the land singing mystical songs. There is also a hill tradition of the satirical representation of gaddis or shepherd groups of the Pahari areas.These figures wear short skirts and dress up as Krishna with feathered crowns. Perhaps this lively figure is a gaddi shepherd.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Dancing Minstrel or Gaddi Shepherd
Date: 18th century
Geography: Made in India, Chamba
Medium: Black ink, lead white, washes in dilute red and red lead, black chalk underdrawing on lightweight machine made paper
Dimensions: H. 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm)
W. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm)
Classification: Codices
Credit Line: Gift of Conley Harris, 2025
Object Number: 2025.276
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

"Shah Jahan on a Terrace, Holding a Pendant Set With His Portrait", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Chitarman Indian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — "Shah Jahan on a Terrace, Holding a Pendant Set With His Portrait", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
Chitarman
recto: dated 1627–28; verso: ca. 1530–50

Finial in the Form of a Parrot, Brass — Finial in the Form of a Parrot
17th–18th century

Footed Bowl and Plate, Glass, opalescent white; blown, bowl with applied stem and blown applied foot, fired silver and gold decoration — Footed Bowl and Plate
first half 18th century

Dagger with Hilt in the Form of a Blue Bull (Nilgai), Hilt: Nephrite<br/>Blade: Watered steel — Dagger with Hilt in the Form of a Blue Bull (Nilgai)
ca. 1640

Base for a Water Pipe (Huqqa) with Irises, Zinc alloy; cast, engraved, inlaid with brass (bidri ware) — Base for a Water Pipe (Huqqa) with Irises
late 17th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.