Who painted Ragini Desakh, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set?

Ragini Desakh, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set was painted by Unknown in 1757.

Where can I see Ragini Desakh, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set?

Ragini Desakh, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set is held by Art Institute of Chicago.

What movement is Ragini Desakh, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set?

Ragini Desakh, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set is associated with Rajput painting.

Artwork

Ragini Desakh, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set

Unknown , 1757

Ragini Desakh, 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. Ragini Desakh is a painted page from a Jaipur Ragamala set, a series of illustrations that visually interpret Indian musical modes.

About this work

Overview

Ragini Desakh is a painted page from a Jaipur Ragamala set, a series of illustrations that visually interpret Indian musical modes. Executed on paper, the composition presents a dynamic tableau of several male figures engaged in combat and observation, set against a muted green background punctuated by modest floral motifs.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, a man poised on a tree stump with bow and arrow, appears to embody a heroic or mythic archetype. Surrounding him are combatants locked in wrestling and fighting, while a spectator watches the conflict. The scene conveys tension and the struggle inherent in the ragam’s associated emotional tone.

Technique & Style

Rendered with delicate brushwork typical of Jaipur school painting, the image balances fine line drawing with washes of subdued green. The figures are outlined in ink, their musculature suggested rather than fully detailed, and the limited palette emphasizes the narrative over decorative richness.

History & Provenance

The page originates from a Ragamala manuscript produced in Jaipur, a regional center for miniature painting in the 18th–19th centuries. Such sets were commissioned for courtly patrons and used as visual companions to musical performances, linking visual art with the raga system.