Who painted Rag Megh Malar, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set?

Rag Megh Malar, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set was painted by Unknown in 1757.

Where can I see Rag Megh Malar, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set?

Rag Megh Malar, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set is held by Art Institute of Chicago.

Artwork

Rag Megh Malar, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set

Rag Megh Malar, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1757 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Rag Megh Malar is a miniature painting from a Jaipur Ragamala series, now part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection.

About this work

Overview

Rag Megh Malar is a miniature painting from a Jaipur Ragamala series, now part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection. The work portrays a blue‑skinned deity in a yellow dhoti, crowned and dancing beneath a tree, surrounded by eight women in brightly colored saris who observe the performance. A white dog, foliage, and a dark‑blue sky with clouds complete the lively composition.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure represents a ragamala (musical mode) personified, a common motif in Indian art where music, poetry, and visual narrative intersect. The surrounding women, some holding a stick or a cloth, function as attendants or audience, emphasizing the celebratory and ritual aspects of the dance within a mythic landscape.

Technique & Style

Executed in the Jaipur school of miniature painting, the piece employs fine brushwork and a vivid palette of greens, yellows, blues, and pinks. The artist renders delicate details in the figures’ garments and the surrounding flora, while the dark blue sky and cloud treatment provide atmospheric depth, characteristic of the region’s courtly aesthetic.

History & Provenance

The painting originates from a set of ragamala illustrations produced in Jaipur, likely during the 18th or early 19th century, when the city’s workshops were renowned for such devotional and musical themes. It entered the Art Institute of Chicago’s holdings through acquisition in the late 20th century, though specific donor information is not publicly recorded.

Context

Ragamala series served as visual guides to Indian classical music, each illustration embodying a specific raga’s mood and time of day. This Jaipur example reflects the courtly patronage of the arts, where painters combined literary, musical, and visual traditions to create integrated cultural artifacts.