This exhibition showcases examples of Indian painting and sculpture from The Ringling and private Florida collections. On view are paintings by artists from various schools affiliated with royal courts across northern, central, and western India between the 16th and 19th centuries. These small format artworks, often referred to as “miniatures,” were created as leaves of books or albums for the private contemplation of elite patrons. Drawing from Hindu scripture and literature, classical music, and court culture, they weave together tales of divine love, earthly splendor, heroism, desire, and vengeance.

Visitors will also see Hindu and Jain sculptures dating from between the 9th and 14th centuries from the bequest of John and Mable Ringling. Carved from stone or cast in metal, these objects comprise the most significant group of Asian objects collected by the Ringlings in the 1920s.

Female musician playing the rudravina, ca. 1680
India, Deccan, Golconda
Opaque pigments with gold on paper, gold-ground border with floral motifs enclosed by pale red and blue banding and green and gold rules, laid down in an album page with interlacing scrolls of foliage on an ivory ground
Image: 6 1/4 × 4 11/16 in. (15.9 × 11.9 cm); sheet: 12 1/4 × 7 13/16 in. (31.1 × 19.8 cm)
South Florida Collection

Paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues.

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.