Shri Raga, from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies)

1695

Nasiruddin

Nasiruddin (Indian, active 1679–1700)

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Shri Raga, from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies), 1695. Nasiruddin (Indian, active 1679–1700). Gum tempera and gold on paper; page: 27 x 18.4 cm (10 5/8 x 7 1/4 in.); miniature: 15 x 10 cm (5 7/8 x 3 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.193 Sharing a bottle of wine, the royal couple enjoy the performance of a musician playing a vina and the horse-headed divinity Tumbaru on the cymbals. Tumbaru is a divinity who has the power to increase the prosperity of the realm. This page is from a series that was made on the occasion of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The ideal king in this scene is a likeness of the current ruler, Anup Singh (r. 1638–93).

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Nasiruddin
Classification: Painting
Formatted Medium: Gum tempera and gold on paper
Medium: gum, tempera, gold, paper
Dimensions: Page: 27 x 18.4 cm (10 5/8 x 7 1/4 in.); Miniature: 15 x 10 cm (5 7/8 x 3 15/16 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: In Nagari on top border ‘srī rāgā’ and Persian number ‘31’. Inscribed ‘śrī rāgā’ in Nagari with Nagari number ‘31’ on verso. Translation: Shri Raga
Departments: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Accession Number: 2018.193
Credit Line: Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
Exhibitions: Paintings of Bikaner – Indian Gallery 242 Rotation
Rights Statement: CC0