Purvi Ragini
Painting
ca. 1770 (painted)
ca. 1770 (painted)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This Deccani painting shows a woman pining for her lover. She is seated in a palace courtyard, supported by a bolster. Her female attendant, standing on the left, is holding a fan made of peacock feathers, an emblem of royalty, while the attendant on the right holds a crescent-shaped fan. The painting is an illustration to the Indian musical mode Purvi Ragini. The illustration of ragas and raginis was popular in the courts of the Deccan, in southern India, as well as further north. The woman’s 'crab's claw' gesture suggests physical ease and desire.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Purvi Ragini (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour on paper |
Brief description | Painting, lady pining for lover, Ragamala, Purvi Ragini, Hyderabad, ca. 1770 |
Physical description | Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, of a lady seated, supported by a bolster, in a pavilion in a palace courtyard. She is stretching her arms above her head with her hands locked in a 'crab's claw' gesture. A female attendant stands on the left with a peacock feather fan, while another stands on the right with a crescent-shaped fan. |
Content description | A lady seated, supported by a bolster, in a pavilion in a palace courtyard. She is stretching her arms above her head with her hands locked in a 'crab's claw' gesture. A female attendant stands on the left with a peacock feather fan, while another stands on the right with a crescent-shaped fan. |
Gallery label | 10. LADY PINING FOR HER LOVER
Gouache and gold on paper
Hyderabad, Deccan
c. 1770
IS.182-1950
Illustration to the musical mode Purvi Ragini. The illustration of ragas and raginis was popular in the courts of the Deccan as well as further north. The 'crab's claw' gesture suggests physical ease and desire. The ragini is associated with the time of sunset.(1997) |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This Deccani painting shows a woman pining for her lover. She is seated in a palace courtyard, supported by a bolster. Her female attendant, standing on the left, is holding a fan made of peacock feathers, an emblem of royalty, while the attendant on the right holds a crescent-shaped fan. The painting is an illustration to the Indian musical mode Purvi Ragini. The illustration of ragas and raginis was popular in the courts of the Deccan, in southern India, as well as further north. The woman’s 'crab's claw' gesture suggests physical ease and desire. |
Collection | |
Accession number | IS.182-1950 |
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Record created | March 16, 2004 |
Record URL |
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