Artwork
Purvi Ragini
Purvi Ragini is a paint painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Purvi Ragini is a Deccani painting depicting a melancholic woman in a palace courtyard, accompanied by two attendants. The scene is an illustration of the Indian musical mode Purvi Ragini.
Subject & Meaning
The woman, supported by a bolster, appears to be longing for her lover. Her 'crab's claw' gesture conveys a sense of physical ease and desire. The attendants fan her with a peacock feather fan, a symbol of royalty, and a crescent-shaped fan.
Technique & Style
The painting exemplifies the Deccani style, characterized by its depiction of a serene yet emotionally charged scene. The use of symbolic objects, such as the peacock feather fan, adds depth to the narrative.
Context
Illustrations of ragas and raginis, like Purvi Ragini, were popular in Indian courts, particularly in the Deccan region of southern India, as well as further north.
History & Provenance
The painting is housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
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
