The Maharani of Travancore

What you see

The Maharani stands, shown to the knees, turned slightly to the left with her eyes on the viewer. Her hair is gathered up with a red flower; she wears a red dot on her forehead, round earrings, a nose ring and several necklaces of pearls and stones. A red shawl worked in gold covers her shoulders, and with both hands she holds a silver tray bearing a thick book.

Skin and fabrics are warm against the blue-gray background, which shows brown stains. Beneath the shawl appear a white cloth knotted at the chest and an ochre skirt. Don’t miss the metal clasp on the book, the gleam of the pearls and the paisley patterns on the shawl.