Artwork

Saindhavi Ragini of the "Sri Raga" Family, page from a Ragamala Series

Saindhavi Ragini of the "Sri Raga" Family, page from a Ragamala Series is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1605 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work, titled Saindhavi Ragini of the “Sri Raga” Family, is a painted page from a Ragamala series.

About this work

Technique & Style

The formal qualities emphasize flattened perspective, rhythmic figure placement, and symbolic attributes associated with the musical mode of the same name.

A page from a Ragamala series depicting Saindhavi Ragini belongs to the Sri Raga family and was created in 1605. The work is classified as a painting and is executed on paper. It is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, which maintains it within its collection of Indian miniature paintings.

The composition follows the conventions of Mughal-era ragamala manuscripts, with delicate line work and restrained color application typical of early 17th-century Indian book art.

The formal qualities emphasize flattened perspective, rhythmic figure placement, and symbolic attributes associated with the musical mode of the same name. Stylistically, the piece reflects the synthesis of regional Pahari and Deccan influences seen in courtly manuscript production of the period.

History & Provenance

The painting is dated to 1605, a date recorded in both the catalogue record and the Wikidata entry for the work. It is classified as a painting rather than a manuscript or illustrated folio, suggesting it was conceived as a standalone page rather than bound into a larger codex at the outset.

The work is currently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 2001.112. No information is provided regarding the artist, the original patron, or the circumstances of its commission. Likewise, the sources do not document any earlier owners, dealers, or intermediate collections through which the page passed before reaching the museum, leaving the ownership chain prior to 2001 unrecorded.

Context

A page from a Ragamala series depicting Saindhavi Ragini belongs to the Sri Raga family and was created in 1605. This work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, listed in its records as accession 2001.112 and attributed to an unknown artist. The painting exemplifies North Indian artistic practice of the early 17th century, reflecting devotional themes tied to musical modes and poetic traditions.

Its presence in a manuscript context highlights the interdisciplinary nature of Rajput visual culture, where music, poetry, and painting converged to represent seasonal and emotional states. The work is studied within the broader tradition of ragamala painting, which codified emotional associations with musical scales and influenced courtly artistic expression across South and Southeast Asia.

Overview

The work, titled Saindhavi Ragini of the “Sri Raga” Family, is a painted page from a Ragamala series. It depicts three elegantly attired women against a bright yellow wall adorned with floral motifs. The scene is set beneath a blue sky populated by birds, with a domed building and balcony visible in the distance.

Subject & Meaning

The three figures represent the Saindhavi ragini, a melodic mode within the Sri Raga family, each rendered in distinct hairstyles and elaborate jewelry. Their poised stance and the inclusion of a deer with prominent antlers on the left suggest a harmonious link between music, nature, and courtly refinement.

Saindhavi Ragini of the "Sri Raga" Family, page from a Ragamala Series

Artist & collection

Museum

Cleveland Museum of Art

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