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Lot Essay
The iconography suggested by Kshemakarna's text for Varval Ragaputra of Malkos Raga is a handsome man, wearing colourful garments, gold earrings and a garland made of champaka flowers (Ebeling, 1973, p.72). Kshemakarna, the 16th century court priest, compares the music of this raga to the sounds of a kite fluttering in the wind. Early Pahari painters drew their inspiration from Kshemakarna's verses, the literal meaning of the raga, as well as the animals, activities, or sounds which the music of the raga was compared to. For an illustration of Varval Ragaputra depicted as a couple flying a kite, see Ebeling, 1973, p.291, fig.369.
Although variously attributed to Basohli, Bilaspur and Chamba in the past, this ragamala series is now attributed to Chamba. Other illustrations from this series have been published in Glynn, Skelton, and Dallapiccola, London, 2011, no.2, pp.42-43; Goswamy, New Delhi, 1999, no.165, pp.218-219; Pal, Markel, and Leoskho, Los Angeles, 1993, p.112, pl.38; Waldschmidt, Berlin, 1975, pp.495-497, figs.147-148.
For another folio from this ragamala series which sold at auction, see Christie’s, New York, 16 September 2008, lot 437.
Although variously attributed to Basohli, Bilaspur and Chamba in the past, this ragamala series is now attributed to Chamba. Other illustrations from this series have been published in Glynn, Skelton, and Dallapiccola, London, 2011, no.2, pp.42-43; Goswamy, New Delhi, 1999, no.165, pp.218-219; Pal, Markel, and Leoskho, Los Angeles, 1993, p.112, pl.38; Waldschmidt, Berlin, 1975, pp.495-497, figs.147-148.
For another folio from this ragamala series which sold at auction, see Christie’s, New York, 16 September 2008, lot 437.