Johnson 39,1-36

J.39,1-36

Thirty-six paintings comprising a’ ragamala’ series, arranged according to Hanuman’s system.

Central India, c.1780.

Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807.

Inscribed with Sanskrit verses of Damodara’s ‘Sangita-darpana’.

Gouache with gold; orange borders.

210 by 135 mm including text area; page 247 by 175 mm.

Published: Randle (1941), 170-71; Ebeling (1973), 216, no.99; Waldschmidt (1975), 545, no.54.

Discussed: Shirreff in Mss Eur D500/3.

Note: Above each picture is a yellow panel on which is written in black nagari the Sanskrit couplets and Hindi ‘dohas’ describing the subjects which are also identified on the reverse in Persian characters. In certain cases there are songs written in red and black ‘nasta‘liq’ in Persian, Braj, Marwari or Punjabi, and these correspond with a manuscript in the Johnson Collection (I.O.R. Pers.Ms 1906, Ethe (1903), no.2019). Johnson probably had these copied from the manuscript on to the reverse of the appropriate pictures. The style of the paintings is simple and direct, the artist following the Sanskrit verses with unimaginative fidelity. The series was previouslv contained in a contemporary binding of black morocco with gilt medallions and cornerpieces. On the fly-leaves is written a list of the ‘ragas’ and ‘raginis’ in Persian.