Asavari Ragini
Painting
ca. 1760 (made)
ca. 1760 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an illustration to the musical phrase Asavari Ragini. Played in the early morning, the music is reminiscent of a snake charmer’s melody and evokes a sense of melancholy felt in the separation of a lover from their beloved. Pictorial metaphors for the melody usually depict a dark-skinned tribal woman wearing a skirt of leaves. Here she charms the snakes by playing a pungi or wind instrument.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Asavari Ragini (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, Asavari Ragini, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Lucknow, ca. 1760 |
| Physical description | Painting, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Asavari Ragini, lady charming snakes with a pipe; she wears a skirt of large leaves and ornaments of gold, and is seated upon a rocky mound, amidst trees and a stream. |
| Content description | Asavari Ragini, lady charming snakes with a pipe; she wears a skirt of large leaves and ornaments of gold, and is seated upon a rocky mound, amidst trees and a stream. |
| Style | |
| Gallery label | This is an illustration to the musical phrase Asavari Ragini. Played in the early morning, the music is reminiscent of a snake charmer’s melody and evokes a sense of melancholy felt in the separation of a lover from their beloved. Pictorial metaphors for the melody usually depict a dark-skinned tribal woman wearing a skirt of leaves. Here she charms the snakes by playing a pungi or wind instrument.(July 2017) |
| Credit line | Given by Sir Robert Nathan, K.C.S.I., C.I.E |
| Object history | From the collection of Sir Robert Nathan (1868-1921), purchased from Maulvi Muhammad Hussain, Judge, Small Claims Court, Delhi. Sir Robert Nathan was Private Secretary to the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, in 1905; became Chief Secretary to the Government of East Bengal and Assam in 1907, and was Police Commissioner of Dhaka before leaving India in 1914. Given by Sir Robert Nathan, K.C.S.I., C.I.E. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. R.P. 1921-4451 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an illustration to the musical phrase Asavari Ragini. Played in the early morning, the music is reminiscent of a snake charmer’s melody and evokes a sense of melancholy felt in the separation of a lover from their beloved. Pictorial metaphors for the melody usually depict a dark-skinned tribal woman wearing a skirt of leaves. Here she charms the snakes by playing a pungi or wind instrument. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.240-1921 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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