An opaque watercolor painting depicting two figures sitting close together underneath the arch of a white, rectangular building. The figure on the right is blue-skinned and wears yellow pants while the figure on the left is pale with a red skirt and brown top. There is script writing above the image and the painting is framed with a red band that is decorated with blue and white flower motifs.

Dipak Raga, Folio from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies) Series

Attributed to Jai Kisan of Malpura

Indian

The Dipak Raga is intended to evoke the mood of intimacy between two lovers. In this folio, the lovers are Krishna, the eighth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu who is worshipped as a deity in his own right, and his consort, Radha. According to legend, one of the Mughal emperor Akbar’s (r. 1556-1605) musicians started a palace fire after being forced to perform this raga against his better judgment. Thus, depictions of this raga typically incorporate some sort of fire imagery. Here, two candelabras flank the scene. Rajput Style.

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper; Rajput Style

Paintings