Artwork
Sanehi Ragini, from the “Second Basohli" Ragamala
Sanehi Ragini, from the “Second Basohli" Ragamala is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1692 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2018.82
- Credit line
- Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
About this work
Overview
Sanehi Ragini is a miniature from the so‑called “Second Basohli” Ragamala series, a collection of paintings that visually interpret Indian musical modes. Executed in the distinctive Basohli style, the work presents a compact interior scene rendered with vivid pigments and precise brushwork.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a seated woman on a low platform, holding a fan and a small object, while a kneeling man in green and red garments with gold trim stands beside her. The pairing suggests a courtly or romantic encounter, a common theme in ragamala narratives that associate musical ragas with specific moods and stories.
Technique & Style
Bold hues of red, green, gold and a patterned rug dominate the surface, while a single light source casts soft shadows that model the figures. This chiaroscuro effect, typical of Indian miniatures of the period, enhances the three‑dimensionality of the enclosed space, which is framed by a balcony, turrets and a yellow wall.
History & Provenance
The painting belongs to the second phase of Basohli production, which flourished in the early eighteenth century in the Himalayan foothills. Works from this period were commissioned by regional courts and later entered private and museum collections, though the specific ownership trail of Sanehi Ragini is not fully documented.
Artist & collection
