Lalita Ragini (painting, recto), from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies) Series

Lalita Ragini is a morning raga that is commonly depicted showing a sleeping woman and her lover, who is silently departing after a night of passion. Here, the woman is shown resting on her day bed, as one female attendant fans her and another approaches with a bowl. Her lover, mounted on a horse, looks back as he leaves. Three male attendants accompany him on foot. This painting is a pictorial metaphor for a raga, a musical phrase that is used as the basis for improvisation, possibly belonging to a Ragamala or “Garland of melodies” which was produced at the Mewar court in the late seventeenth century. Another painting from the same series is 1931.16, 1931.17, 1931.18 and 1932.32. Rajput, Rajasthani, Mewar School.