Johnson 35,1-30

J.35,1-30

Thirty paintings from a ‘ragamala’ series, arranged according to a variation of Hanuman’s system.

Murshidabad, c.1770-75.

Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807.

Inscribed with verses of Harivallabha’s Hindi version of the ‘Sangita-darpana,’ and with Sanskrit verses.

Gouache with gold on paper; mounted on card to provide red borders with black and white inner rules.

245 by 145 mm; page 295 by 195 mm (approx.).

Published: Gangoly (1935), pl.LXXXIV A; Randle (1941), 167; Skelton (1956), 21; Nijenhuis (1971); Ebeling (1973), no.86; Waldschmidt (1975), 544. no.46.

Discussed: Shirreff in Mss Eur D500/3.

Note: The inscriptions are all written on the reverse of the mounting card or on slips of paper pasted onto the reverse, indicating that they may not be precisely contemporary with the paintings, and thus accounting for any discrepancies with the subjects. These inscriptions follow a regular pattern, with Sanskrit and Hindi verses in the centre, and Persian descriptions above and below these. The Sanskrit text in many cases corresponds with the ‘Sangita-damodara’ of Subhankara (Nijenhuis (1971)), and in other cases with the ‘Sangita-darpana’ of Damodara (Shirreff, Mss Eur D500/3). The Hindi verses are those of Harivallabha, based on the ‘Sangita-darpana’ of Damodara. The Persian descriptions are based on either the Sanskrit or Hindi verses. At the top a Persian inscription gives the title of the subject, and usually brief details of the hour of day or night appropriate for the ‘raga’ or’ ragini’ to be played. In these inscriptions the title is written in a bold hand, and the other details in a smaller hand. It seems that the titles were already on the pictures when Johnson obtained them, and that the other writings were added under his direction some time later.