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

Object Number
1932.32
Title
Kanada Ragini (painting, recto), from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies) Series
Other Titles
Series/Book Title: Ragamala
Classification
Manuscripts
Work Type
manuscript folio
Date
c. 1680
Places
Creation Place: South Asia, India, Rajasthan, Mewar
Culture
Indian
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/216545

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
sight: 37 x 21 cm (14 9/16 x 8 1/4 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Dr. Denman W. Ross
Accession Year
1932
Object Number
1932.32
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Kanada Ragini is sung in the middle of the night, and commonly depicted as a princely warrior who shows his valor vanquishing an elephant. Often, two royal bards are depicted with their arms raised as a salute to this princely warrior. Here, the princely warrior is depicted as Krishna, who is seen in the top register, pulling his uncle, Kamsa by the hair, after having vanquished the elephant who lies in the lower register. Two royal bards are seen saluting Krishna with their arms raised. The artist has blended the Ragamala narrative with an important episode from the life of Krishna: his final encounter with his evil uncle, Kamsa.

This painting is a pictorial metaphor for a raga, a musical phrase that is used as the basis for improvisation, possibly belonging to a Ragamala or “Garland of melodies” which was produced at the Mewar court in the late seventeenth century. Other paintings from the same series are 1931.16, 1931.17, 1931.18, and 1931.19. Rajput, Rajasthani, Mewar School.

Exhibition History

  • The Music Room, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 09/22/1984 - 11/11/1984

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