Artwork
King and Queen in Zenana: Sandehi Ragini, Wife of Bhairava, from the “Second Basohli Ragamala"
King and Queen in Zenana: Sandehi Ragini, Wife of Bhairava, from the “Second Basohli Ragamala" is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1696 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work titled “King and Queen in Zenana: Sandehi Ragini, Wife of Bhairava” is a miniature painting belonging to the Second Basohli Ragamala series.
The work titled “King and Queen in Zenana: Sandehi Ragini, Wife of Bhairava” is a miniature painting belonging to the Second Basohli Ragamala series. Executed on paper, it portrays a seated male figure in a green robe with red embroidery and a turban, alongside a female figure in a white sari with red and gold detailing, set within an interior space marked by a bright yellow wall and architectural elements.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures an intimate moment between a royal couple, identified as the king and his consort, Sandehi Ragini, who is associated with the deity Bhairava. The setting, a zenana or women’s quarters, suggests a private, domestic scene, while the presence of a small object in the woman’s hand may allude to ritual or courtly symbolism.
Technique & Style
Rendered in the Basohli school of Pahari painting, the piece employs vivid pigments and fine brushwork characteristic of Indian miniature traditions. The use of contrasting colors—green, red, white, and gold—along with a patterned floor border of flowers and vines, reflects the decorative richness typical of ragamala illustrations.
History & Provenance
The painting forms part of the Second Basohli Ragamala, a series that visualized musical modes through narrative scenes. Though specific ownership details are not provided, the work is currently catalogued by the Cleveland Museum of Art, indicating its inclusion in a public collection.
Context
Ragamala paintings originated in the 16th‑century northern Indian courts, linking visual art with classical Indian music. The Basohli variant, emerging in the early 18th century, is noted for its bold colors and expressive figures, situating this work within a broader tradition of courtly devotional and secular imagery.
Legacy
As an example of the Second Basohli Ragamala, the painting contributes to scholarly understanding of how musical concepts were visualized in pre‑colonial Indian art. Its preservation in a museum collection allows continued study of the stylistic and cultural exchanges that shaped Pahari miniature painting.
Artist & collection
