Artwork
Bhairava raga
Bhairava raga is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This painting is a representation of Bhairava raga, a traditional Hindu musical form, from a dispersed ragamala set.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a blue-skinned figure, likely Krishna, in a palace with a woman, diverging from the typical representation of Bhairava raga as Shiva.
Technique & Style
The painting features bold colours and a flat composition, characteristic of the Malwa style from central India, circa 1650-1700.
Context
Ragamala art pairs musical forms with scenes or figures, often tied to specific moods and times of day.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
