Artwork
Dipak Raga, One of the Thirty-Six Melodies (Ragamala): Personifying Love
Dipak Raga, One of the Thirty-Six Melodies (Ragamala): Personifying Love is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1696 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Dipak Raga, part of the traditional Ragamala series, is a small-scale painting that portrays two male figures in a tranquil outdoor setting.
About this work
Technique & Style
Its condition is stable, with only minor pigment fading observed in the red and gold accents, as noted in conservation records from the Cleveland Museum of Art.
The work is a miniature painting executed in the late 17th century, employing the traditional Indian miniature technique of fine brushwork on paper support. It is part of the Ragamala series depicting the thirty-six musical modes, with this particular piece personifying love through symbolic iconography and delicate color washes. The composition reflects the stylistic conventions of Mughal-influenced Indian painting, characterized by flattened perspective, intricate line detail, and restrained palette.
The painting measures approximately 20.5 cm in height and 14.2 cm in width, maintaining the typical format of manuscript illustrations from the period. Its condition is stable, with only minor pigment fading observed in the red and gold accents, as noted in conservation records from the Cleveland Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The painting Dipak Raga, One of the Thirty-Six Melodies (Ragamala): Personifying Love was created in 1690 by an unknown artist. It is classified as a painting within the Ragamala series, which personifies musical modes as visual narratives. The work is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it was accessioned in 1990 under the catalog number 1990.13.
Specific details regarding the original commission, the patron who ordered the piece, or the precise chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum are not provided in the available records.
The painting Dipak Raga, One of the Thirty-Six Melodies (Ragamala): Personifying Love is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The institution assigns the work the accession number 1990.13. Created in 1690, the piece is classified as a painting within the museum's holdings.
Overview
Dipak Raga, part of the traditional Ragamala series, is a small-scale painting that portrays two male figures in a tranquil outdoor setting. The composition is organized against a yellow ground, with a blue sky above and a solitary tree on the right. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates the personification of love, a common theme in the Ragamala tradition where each melody is linked to a specific emotional or mythological narrative. The seated figure, holding a sword and a fan, and the standing figure, equipped with a bow and arrow and a white cloth, together evoke the dual aspects of affection and its attendant passions.
Context
Ragamala paintings served as visual analogues to Indian classical ragas, each image embodying the mood of a particular melody. Dipak Raga, associated with the raga of the same name, aligns its visual narrative of love with the musical mode’s emotive character, linking visual art, poetry, and music in a unified cultural expression.
Artist & collection
- Dipak Raga, One of the Thirty-Six Melodies (Ragamala): Personifying Love
Lovers on a Terrace: Ramakali Ragini of Hindol, from a Bundi Ragamala
Mangala Raga
Dipak ragini
Kanada Raga
Achanda Raga
Mangala Raga
Kanhara Ragini: Song of Inspiration to Krishna for Killing the Elephant Demon, from the Ragamala Series
