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.

  (verso, lower left) inscribed, “DVJ” (above the R. E. Lewis, Inc. stock number and possibly inscribed in the same hand)

  (verso, lower left) inscribed, “DVJ” (above the R. E. Lewis, Inc. stock number and possibly inscribed in the same hand)

• Label

  Gunakali ragini is one of the female raginis associated variously with either Raga Malkaus or Raga Hindola [See Appendices 1-36 in O.C. Gangoly, Ragas & Raginis (Nalanda Publications, Bombay, 1935]. The inscription on the reverse attempts to accomodate both traditions. The verse describing the ragini commences by assigning her to Malkaus (malkausaki ragini) and concludes with a Hindola association (hindolaki ragini).

• Provenance

  ?-1972

  Vijaivargiya, Jaipur, India, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1972-1990

  R. E. Lewis, Inc. (active 1952-1999), CA, probably purchased from Vijaivargiya, possibly in Jaipur, India [2]

  From 1990

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

  Notes:

  [1] See letter from Raymond E. Lewis to Milo Beach, dated July 11, 1990, copy in object file. Raymond E. Lewis’s letter states “The stock number which you will see on the reverse, ‘08542’[,] refers to our stock book, in which this drawing was recorded. It was entered in January of 1972. We acquired at that time a

  group of drawings, mostly Bundi and Kotah, from the teacher/dealer Vijaivargiya in Jaipur.”

  [2] 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, “Drawing; Rajput, Bundi, late 17th c; Gunkali Ragini; 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 and his clients included private collectors and institutions, such as the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. The firm was dissolved in 1999 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, Oregon in 2021.

  [3] 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 08542 and is described as, “Rajput, Bundi, late 17th century: Gunkali Ragini. Brush drawing.” The object is part of the museum’s Freer Gallery of Art Collection.

  Research updated June 17, 2024

• 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

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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