Page 106 - Bonhams Himalayan, Indian Art march 2015

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A group of seven folios from a Ragamala series
Amber, early 18th century
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; comprising Bhairava raga, Bhopali ragini,
Patmanjari ragini, Megha Malar raga, Saindhavi ragini, Todi ragini, Gauri ragini.
Images: 8 1/4 x 6 in. (20.9 x 15.1 cm) approx.; Folios: irregular, 13 5/8 x 10 in.
(34.5 x 25.4 cm), the largest
$15,000 - 20,000

Several ragamala sets were commissioned under Sawai Jai Singh (r. 1699-1743). The most
distinguished of the group, dated 1709, is held in the Kankroli Collection. Three folios from a
less refined version, also dated 1709, are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (58.1.6-8). For a
full discussion, see Asok Kumar Das, ‘Court Painting For The Amber Rulers, Circa 1590-1727’,
in Topsfield, Court Painting of Rajasthan, Mumbai, 2000, p. 50, nos. 9, 10 & 12.

Compare with folios in the Brooklyn Museum of Art (Poster, Realms of Heroism, 1994, cat.
102, p. 142) and Ebeling, Ragamala Painting, 1973, cat. nos 43-7, pp. 185-8; also Christie’s,
New York, September 21, 2007, lot 10.

Provenance
Acquired in the 1960 through Arthur Lall
Private New York Estate

104 | BONHAMS