Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Identification and Creation

Object Number
2009.202.1
Title
View of a Palace (recto); Asavari Ragini (verso)
Other Titles
Former Title: Views of a Palace
Classification
Drawings
Work Type
drawing
Date
18th century
Places
Creation Place: South Asia, India, Rajasthan, Kota
Culture
Indian
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/217755

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Ink and opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions
25.2 x 17.4 cm (9 15/16 x 6 7/8 in.)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Stuart Cary Welch (by 1969 - 2008,) by descent; to his estate (2008-2009,) gift; to Harvard Art Museum.

Notes:
Object was part of temporary loan to Museum in 1969.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, The Stuart Cary Welch Collection, Gift of Edith I. Welch in memory of Stuart Cary Welch
Accession Year
2009
Object Number
2009.202.1
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
The recto side of the folio depicts a palace. In the bottom register is a group of women getting dressed after bathing in the river. Seated in the palace are a man and woman that also appear to be conversing. On the right is a group of four women at a shrine.
On the verso side of the folio is a drawing depicting the Asavari Ragini, who is commonly represented by a female heroine (nayika) who charms snakes either through her dance or through her music. In this drawing, the female figure, bare chested and wearing a skirt made of leaves, sits on a rock. A cobra rests on her hand, its body draping down her thigh. Other snakes can be found on the scene, coiled around trees or slithering on the ground. This painting is a pictorial metaphor for a raga, a musical phrase that is used as the basis for improvisation. Rajput, Rajasthani, Kota School.

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be 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