Dipak Raga (painting, recto), from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies) Series

The Dipak Raga is intended to evoke the mood of intimacy between two lovers. In this painting, the encounter takes place at a palace. A king sits under a roofed terrace in front of his consort who offers him a gold dish of food. His status is represented by his rich dress, as well as the attendant behind him who holds up a peacock feather fan, a symbol of royalty. A group of musicians sits at the far left. According to legend, one of the Mughal emperor Akbar’s (r. 1556-1605) musicians started a palace fire after being forced to perform this raga against his better judgment. Thus, depictions of this raga typically incorporate some sort of fire imagery. Here, a single candelabrum stands behind the consort. 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. Other paintings from the same series are 1931.16, 1931.17, 1931.19, and 1932.32. Rajput, Rajasthani, Mewar School.