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Lot Essay
According to J.L. Davidson, the painting may be a part of a Ragamala set of three miniatures. The third, consisting of a lone young woman in a summer field of flowers is illustrated in Art of the Indian Subcontinent from Los Angeles Collections as well and remains in a private collection. The Ragini Devgandhar is described as a longing wife who prayed for the return of her husband by practicing austerities until she was transformed into a matted-haired, ash-smeared ascetic.
Davidson also notes that the landscape is more than just a setting, doubling as a source of hidden images. Some, such as the head of a turbaned man issuing the stream and another man below are obvious. The female form comprised of the rocks, is much more subtle with the cave in the area of her pelvis. It is perhaps a visual pun on the notion of 'garbhagriha' or womb chamber.
This work was featured in the James Ivory documentary on miniature painting, The Sword and the Flute, 1959.
Davidson also notes that the landscape is more than just a setting, doubling as a source of hidden images. Some, such as the head of a turbaned man issuing the stream and another man below are obvious. The female form comprised of the rocks, is much more subtle with the cave in the area of her pelvis. It is perhaps a visual pun on the notion of 'garbhagriha' or womb chamber.
This work was featured in the James Ivory documentary on miniature painting, The Sword and the Flute, 1959.