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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1972.347
Title
Todi Ragini, illustration from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies) Series
Classification
Paintings
Work Type
painting
Date
c. 1640-1660
Places
Creation Place: South Asia, India, Central India, Malwa
Culture
Indian
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/216066

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Opaque watercolor on paper; Malwa Style
Dimensions
sight: 22.54 x 14.92 cm (8 7/8 x 5 7/8 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of John Kenneth Galbraith
Accession Year
1972
Object Number
1972.347
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Todi Ragini evokes both tenderness and sadness, and is commonly represented by a young heroine (nayika) in a forest separated from her lover. In this painting, she is shown carrying a vina, a multi-stringed instrument distinct to the Indian subcontinent. Her music has attracted black buck deer, which are also a typical feature in Todi Ragini paintings. The lush trees seem to rhythmically sway, alluding to the musical nature of the work. This painting is a pictorial metaphor for a raga, a musical phrase that is used as the basis for improvisation. Malwa Style.

Exhibition History

  • The Music Room, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 09/22/1984 - 11/11/1984
  • Where Traditions Meet: Painting in India from the 15th-17th Centuries, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 06/05/2003 - 12/07/2003

Verification Level

This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu