Painted Melodies

A painting depicting a beautiful forlorn lady with a striking complexion standing under a mango tree in a grove, holding a musical instrument with enchanted peacocks in front, who listen to her playing on her instrument. This ragini which has both tenderness and sadness,  depicting separation from her lover, from the Deccan, dated to the late 19^th century.

Ragini Madhu-madhavi depicts two figures, the nayika or heroine and her companion. The heroine is disturbed by the lightning and the intruding peacock and is trying to push it away as she waits for her beloved. 

She has readied the place for the tryst; there is a tray with wine cup and ewer among other things. An early evening ragini of joyous anticipation, a painting from Kotah, dated to circa 1700.

Kamodi ragini depicts a lady feeding a peacock in a garden. She has been deserted by her lover and is roaming in a grove. Kamodi ragini  is often seen carrying garlands as they are a symbol of the love-tryst. An evening melody of pathos and longing, a painting from Malwa, dated to the 17^th century.

Painting depicting Vibhas Ragini showing a lover having a garland and a sword in his hands leaving his beloved who is sleeping in a palace. The garland depicts the tryst of love and the sword shows that he is leaving his sleeping lover towards the end of the starry night, as dawn approaches. A morning melody of the joy of union,  painting from Malwa, dated to the 18^th century. 

Painting depicting Ragini Bangla, a lady seated on a deer skin, she is in a posture of worship next to a building which seems to be her hermitage, with her pet cheetah in the foreground.  Trees are by the side, one is a banyan. She has taken up ascetic life due to the loss of her beloved. 

She has a musk mark on the forehead and matted locks and probably ash in her palms. A monsoon melody of pathos, painting from Bundi, dated to circa 1760. 

Painting depicting Gauri ragini. A lady standing between two rocks with trees holding flower creeper wands in both the hands. Two peacocks seen seated on the rocks and two peacocks on the background are shown. They are her companions as she is separated from her beloved. A late evening melody of longing, a painting from Sirohi, Rajasthan, dated to circa 1670.   

Miniature painting of Malasri  ragini depicts a nayika seated plucking petals out of a lotus. She is waiting for her lover and is in a disturbed state due to the separation but there is an expectation. Her confidante is standing before her, trees, flowering plants, clouds in the sky form the backdrop. A late evening ragini of longing and anticipation, a painting from Malwa, dated to circa 1670. 

A beautiful depiction of the Asavari ragini showing a lady seated on a rock in the forest playing on a veena. She is surrounded by snakes. She has been separated from her lover and has taken up ascetic life, has a way with snakes and can sing and dance to charm them. 

A morning ragini, the composition shows trees, flower plants and a water body with lotuses in the foreground. A vibrant blue sky is the backdrop. A creeper design border in gold against orange and ornate foliate design around the border enhance the beauty of this painting from the Deccan, dated to the early 19^th century.

Dhanasri ragini is depicted as a princess engaged in painting her absent lover’s image. She is drawing for a sense of recall. She is seated on an ornate terrace under a canopy with a bolster at the back, a confidante is seated in front speaking to her and a maid is standing behind her. 

A ragini of late evening, Dhanasri ragini is a melody of mixed emotions. This miniature is painted by artist Anup, from the Mughal School, dated to the 18^th century.