Purvi Ragini thumbnail 1
Purvi Ragini thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Purvi Ragini

Painting
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
TitlePurvi 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 createdMarch 16, 2004
Record URL
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