Before the Golden Citadel, North India, Punjab Hills, Pahari or Garhwal School, mid-19th century Gouache and gold on cardboard depicting, in the foreground, a veiled woman wearing an orange sari with golden flowers, seemingly imploring, her hands in prayer, a musician wearing a bun, bare-chested and barefoot, a vina on his shoulder. In front of them, a pool of water, and behind them, an imposing citadel with golden walls and red domes, awnings and pavilions dominating an azure sky. In the upper right-hand corner, a statue of Vishnu seated cross-legged on a lotus, framed by a priest fanning him with a morshal and another blowing into a conch shell. Fine blue border and pink margin speckled with red paint. On the back, two-line inscription in devanagari in sepia ink. Painting size: 23.3 x 32 cm; overall size: 30.5 x 39.1 cm Small retouch or repentance around the man's feet, wear in the corners. Bibliography : SOUSTIEL, Jean, DAVID, Marie-Christine, Miniatures Orientales de l'Inde, Paris, May 1973, n°126, p. 110. Provenance: Former collection of a Paris researcher (Part I).