Who painted Raga Bhairaon, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set?

Raga Bhairaon, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set was painted by Unknown in 1757.

Where can I see Raga Bhairaon, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set?

Raga Bhairaon, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set is held by Art Institute of Chicago.

What movement is Raga Bhairaon, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set?

Raga Bhairaon, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set is associated with Rajput painting.

Artwork

Raga Bhairaon, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set

Unknown , 1757

Raga Bhairaon, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set is an unspecified painting by the Rajput painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1757 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Raga Bhairaon is a miniature painting from a Jaipur Ragamala series, portraying a festive court scene.

About this work

Overview

Raga Bhairaon is a miniature painting from a Jaipur Ragamala series, portraying a festive court scene. A man in yellow and white garments occupies a throne, encircled by women in multicoloured dresses. Musicians in the foreground play a variety of instruments, while a building with a balcony and windows forms the backdrop, suggesting an interior palace setting.

Subject & Meaning

The composition illustrates a raga, musical mode, associated with the Bhairav scale, traditionally linked to solemn yet celebratory moods. The central figure likely represents a patron or deity, surrounded by courtiers and performers, embodying the harmonious convergence of music, dance, and royal patronage that characterises Ragamala iconography.

Technique & Style

Executed in the Jaipur school of miniature painting, the work employs fine brushwork on paper, with vibrant mineral pigments and delicate gold leaf accents. The figures are rendered with graceful outlines and stylised gestures, while the architectural elements display a flattened perspective typical of Indian courtly art.

History & Provenance

The piece belongs to a set of Ragamala illustrations produced in the early 18th century for a Jaipur court patron. Though the exact collector history is undocumented, similar Jaipur Ragamala sets have entered museum collections worldwide, reflecting the period’s flourishing patronage of visual music narratives.

Context

Ragamala paintings translate musical modes into visual allegories, a practice that flourished across northern India from the 16th to 18th centuries. Jaipur’s version is noted for its refined colour palette and courtly elegance, distinguishing it from contemporaneous Mughal or Rajput styles while sharing the broader cultural aim of linking sound and sight.