Gauri Ragini (painting, recto; text, verso), from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies) Series

The Gauri Ragini is meant to evoke a contemplative mood and is commonly represented by a female heroine (nayika)who is lovesick and reminisces about her lover in a forest. She typically holds flowers in her hands and her song and dance attract peacocks. Here, in this painting, the female figure, surrounded by lush trees, carries a large branch of flowers. On the top of a canopy is a peacock spreading its wings. This painting is a pictorial metaphor for a raga, a musical phrase that is used as the basis for improvisation). This folio most likely belonged to an album of Ragamala or "Garland of Ragas" folios produced in Malwa. Sanskrit verses associated with the raga or the ragini depicted on the recto are written on the verso. Other folios from the same series in the Harvard Art Museum’s collection are objects 1972.347, 1973.156, 1973.157, 1973.158, 1973.173, 1973.174. Rajput, Rajasthani, Malwa School.