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Devagandhari Ragini

Unknown

1780

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Rococo painting Romanticism 18th Century Religious

Dominant colour

Devagandhari Ragini is a 1780 paint by Unknown, a Rococo painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1780 · Rococo painting
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a woman sitting cross-legged on the ground, her hands clasped together in front of her chest. She's wearing a yellow skirt and has long dark hair. A tree with green leaves stands behind her, and a smaller figure sits at its base. The background is a muted green, and the overall mood is peaceful. The woman's calm expression and the serene setting suggest a religious or spiritual theme. The use of muted colors adds to the sense of tranquility. If you're interested in learning more about this style of art, you might want to explore the Romanticism movement.

The story of this work

Overview

The painting is an opaque watercolor on paper from 1780, depicting an ascetic seated before a Shiva lingam encircled by lotus flowers in water, likely serving as an illustration for the musical mode Devagandhari Ragini within a Ragamala series. These works traditionally visualize poetic and musical concepts to guide performers in interpreting the mood and tonal structure of the piece.

Read the full account in the museum source.