Important Notice

PROVINCIAL MUGHAL / BIKANER, CIRCA 1660
Inscribed in Nagari 'sri raga ki ragini vasant' on the reverse
Gouache on paper heightened with gold
Image: 5.75 x 4 in (15.2 x 10.4 cm)
Folio: 11.5 x 8.25 in (29.4 x 21.4 cm)

NON-EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY

PROVENANCE
The Motichand Khajanchi Collection


This folio depicts Krishna as the nayak, seated at the This folio depicts Krishna as the nayak, seated at the prince is seated to his right and an attendant holding a chauri hands him a garland. Heaps of colour lie in platters between the figures and all of them, including the terrace foreground, are smeared with colour. The scene suggests that they have all returned from playing Holi and are now settling down to a round of music. This highly layered composition brings together music, festival and social commentary. Raga Basant is an evening raga but during Spring season, known as Basant, it can be performed at any time of the day. As a result, it lends itself extremely well to the occasion of the colourful festivities of the Spring festival of Holi. The cool blue sky is characteristic of Bikaner painting of this period, while the Shah Jahani turbans and sashes, or patkas, indicate a synthesis of the Mughal and Rajasthani idioms. The detailed foliage in the background is also rendered in the Mughal style while the lush green tree behind the attendant has a Deccani flavour.

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