Gunakali Ragini, from a ragamala (garland of melodies)

Object Details

• Court

  Bundi Court

• School/Tradition

  Rajput school

• Description

  This Gunakali ragini in the Rajasthani tradition of Ragamala painting depicts a lady arranging flowers in two vases. She is separated from her lover and is depicted waiting for him outside her bed-chamber. The drawing is unfinished and details of flowers, the lady's jewelry and some architectural detail are left out. The drawing is done in black. Color patches of white, black, red, pink, and yellow and some black and blue in the sky are indicated.

• Inscriptions

  There are two inscriptions at the top: recto: an abraded inscription across the upper border and a short inscription "raga 12" below that. The verso has a long inscription at the top and unfinished sketches of a tree, a flower and a line of circles.

• Provenance

  To 1972

  Vijaivargiya, Jaipur, India, to 1972 [1]

  From 1972 to 1990

  R. E. Lewis, Belvedere, CA, acquired from Vijaivargiya, in 1972 [2]

  From 1990

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from R.E. Lewis in 1990

  Notes:

  [1] According to Curatorial Note 3 in the object record.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Vijaivargiya

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

• Origin

  Bundi, Rajasthan state, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1680s, 1670s

• Name

  Vijaivargiya, R. E. Lewis, Inc.

• Place

  Bundi, Rajasthan state, India

• Topic

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

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Manuscripts