Artwork
Sri Raga
Sri Raga is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is an early 18th‑century Ragamala illustration executed in opaque water‑colour on paper.
About this work
Overview
The work is an early 18th‑century Ragamala illustration executed in opaque water‑colour on paper. It visualises the Sri Raga, a melodic mode, by portraying a princely figure seated beneath a richly patterned tent while musicians perform nearby.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre sits a prince on a raised platform, attended by three other figures—one playing an instrument, another holding a ceremonial flag, and a third observing. The composition conveys the courtly ambience associated with the Sri Raga, linking the music’s emotive character to a serene, aristocratic setting.
Technique & Style
The painting employs opaque water‑colour applied in layers that create a soft, atmospheric effect reminiscent of sfumato, allowing forms to merge gently into one another. Intricate decorative motifs adorn the tent’s red‑yellow canopy, while delicate brushwork suggests foliage and a cloudy sky in the background.
History & Provenance
Created around 1700, the piece belongs to the broader Ragamala tradition that paired visual art with Indian musical theory. Its provenance traces to collections of Mughal‑influenced court paintings, though specific ownership records are limited.
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
