Artwork
Sāraṃga rāgiṇī
Sāraṃga rāgiṇī is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Nasiruddin. It dates from 1605 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
If you like this, look up another artist from Rajasthan: Sahibdin.
This painting shows a woman playing a stringed tanpura. She sits on a patterned rug against a plain background. Her sari is draped in soft folds of yellow, green and white.
The painting comes from a set called the "Chawand ragamala." Made in 1605, it’s the oldest dated set from Rajasthan. The artist’s name, Nasiruddin, is written on the last page.
If you like this, look up another artist from Rajasthan: Sahibdin.
Overview
Sāraṃga rāgiṇī is a miniature painting from the Chawand ragamala series, executed in 1605. The work depicts a female figure seated on a patterned rug, playing a tanpura, against a plain background. Her sari is rendered in gentle folds of yellow, green and white, emphasizing the serene atmosphere of the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates a raga personified as a woman, a common motif in ragamala iconography where musical modes are visualized as characters. The act of playing the tanpura links the visual representation to the auditory qualities of the associated raga, suggesting a harmonious blend of sound and image.
Technique & Style
Executed in the traditional Rajasthani miniature style, the painting employs fine brushwork and a restrained palette. The delicate rendering of fabric folds and the intricate rug pattern demonstrate the artist’s skill in conveying texture, while the flat background focuses attention on the figure and her instrument.
History & Provenance
A colophon on the final page of the series records the date 1605, the artist’s name Nasiruddin, and the location of production—Chawand, the capital of Mewar from 1585 to 1609. The series, including this panel, now resides in a private Indian collection.
Context
The Chawand ragamala is the earliest dated ragamala set known from Rajasthan, reflecting the courtly patronage of the Mewar kingdom. Its creation coincides with a period of artistic flourishing in the region, where Persian-influenced miniature techniques merged with indigenous themes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nisardin (fl. 1585–1609, also known as Nasiruddin) was an artist who is credited to have painted the earliest dated set of Rajasthani miniature paintings, called Chawand Ragamala. It is uncertain if he belonged to the…
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