Gaudi Ragini, First Wife of Malkos Raga, Folio from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies)

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Gaudi Ragini, First Wife of Malkos Raga, Folio from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies)

India, Rajasthan, Bikaner, 1605-1606 with later repainting
Drawings; watercolors
Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper
Image: 6 1/4 x 4 1/2 in. (15.88 x 11.43 cm); Sheet: 8 1/2 x 6 1/4 in. (21.59 x 15.88 cm)
From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase (M.74.5.14)
South and Southeast Asian Art
Not currently on public view

Curator Notes

The poetic Sanskrit inscription in the upper border reads, “Sprays of the heavenly (wishing-) tree in hand, adorned with a girdle of sweet-toned bells, and beauty enhanced by a splendid robe, she, who...
The poetic Sanskrit inscription in the upper border reads, “Sprays of the heavenly (wishing-) tree in hand, adorned with a girdle of sweet-toned bells, and beauty enhanced by a splendid robe, she, whoever pleasure gives, is declared to be Gaudi.” (Translation from Klaus Ebeling, Ragamala Painting (1973), p. 120.) The undecipherable inscription in the right-hand border reads, “guchinananga 8.” Gaudi (or Gauri) Ragini is the first wife of Malkos Raga in the predominant ragamala (garland of melodies) classification system generally known as the Rajasthani system. It is a soulful melody associated with the late afternoon and Winter (December-January). It expresses the lamentation of a heroine over her unfaithful lover. Here, the heroine carries flower wands while strolling in the woods by a stream. A peacock gazes at her with enrapturement. See also M.87.278.14 and M.90.141.2. Previously attributed to Popular Mughal (Pal 1993), this painting and its series mate M.86.345.1 are now believed to be from Bikaner, Rajasthan. Other folios from this dispersed series are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (1981.460.3, 1981.464.1, 1987.417.2), and Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Berlin.
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Bibliography

  • Rosenfield, John.  The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection.  Boston:  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1966.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. Indian Painting, vol.1. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1993.