Vilaval Ragini from a ragamala (garland of musical modes) set

Object Details

• Court

  Bundi Court

• School/Tradition

  Rajput school

• Description

  In an inner part of an architectural setting, a woman adorns herself with an earring held in one hand while she holds the end of her braid in the other. She is looking into a mirror held by her maid who holds a necklace. A third woman sits before the chamber playing on a vina. The ground is green, the curtains red, the buildings white and pink.

• Inscriptions

  1. (Carol Bolon, January 1991) "Confidante, vilaval ragini" is inscribed in Persian on the upper left and "vilaval ragini" is inscribed on the upper right in Devanagari.

• Provenance

  ?-before 1974

  Stuart Cary Welch (1928-2008), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  After 1974-?

  Ownership information unknown

  ?-1990

  R. E. Lewis, Inc. (active 1952-1999), CA, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1990

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased from R. E. Lewis, Inc. [3]

  Notes:

  [1] Milo Cleveland Beach, “Rajput Painting at Bundi and Kota,” from “Artibus Asiae. Supplementum,” Vol. 32, (1974), plate XXXIII, fig. 32. Object is described as, “Vilaval ragini, from a Ragamala series. Bundi, ca. 1680 A.D. Formerly Stuart C. Welch Collection.”

  Stuart Cary Welch (1928-2008) was a scholar, connoisseur, and collector of Islamic and Indian art, and his wife Edith Iselin Welch (1931-2009) shared his passion for art and collecting. Welch had a lifelong professional affiliation with Harvard Art Museums, and as a professor at Harvard University until his retirement in 1995. In 2011, Sotheby's London held a two-part sale of Welch's collection, followed by "The Edith and Stuart Cary Welch Collection" sale in 2023.

  [2] See object file for copy of R. E. Lewis, Inc. invoice number 4980 to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated July 11, 1990, and marked approved on September 28, 1990. Object is listed as dealer stock number 09237 and is described as, “Rajput, Bundi, ca. 1680: Vilaval Ragini. From a well-known Ragamala series. Miniature painting. Provenance S. C. Welch.”

  [3] See incoming receipt, dated June 5, 1990, copy in object file. The object was transferred from R. E. Lewis, Inc. to the Freer Gallery of Art for acquisition consideration on June 5, 1990. Object is described as, “Painting; Vilaval ragini; Ragamala series, ca. 1680; figures.”

  R. E. Lewis, Inc. (active 1952-1999) specialized in the sale of European prints from the 15th to the 20th century, Japanese woodblock prints, and Indian miniature paintings. Founded by Raymond E. Lewis (1923-2005), the firm was first located at 555 Sutter Street in San Francisco, CA and later in San Rafael, CA. Mr. Lewis acquired objects in the United States and in Europe; his clients included private collectors and institutions, such as the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. After Lewis’ death, the firm dissolved and works from their stock may now be found at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and The British Museum, among others. Mr. Lewis’ daughter, Jan Lewis Slavid, established the successor gallery R. E. Lewis & Daughter in 2000 in San Rafael, CA. The firm reincorporated in Beaverton, OR in 2021.

  [4] See note 2. The object is part of the museum’s Freer Gallery of Art Collection.

  Research updated June 17, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Female Imagery in Indian Painting (February 9 to August 5, 1996)

  South and South East Asian Art (May 9, 1993 to February 7, 2000)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Stuart Cary Welch (1928-2008)

  R. E. Lewis, Inc. (active 1952-1999)

• Origin

  Bundi, Rajasthan state, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1680s, 1670s

• Name

  R. E. Lewis, Inc., Welch, Stuart Cary

• Place

  Bundi, Rajasthan state, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Playing, Music, Ragamala, Woman, Vina

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings