Kakubha ragini: a maiden in a landscape holding floral garlands, surrounded by peacocks, two musicians on the brow of a hill beyond Rajasthan, probably Amber, circa 1740


gouache and gold on paper, green inner border, five lines of nagari text in yellow panel at top, outer border with scrolling floral motifs in silver on an orange ground 315 x 230 mm.
|ProvenancePrivate UK collection: acquired by the seller in the early 1970s.For a very similar composition depicting the same ragamala subject, see Christie's, Arts of India, 12th June 2018, lot 18 (and see also lots 19 and 20). See also W. G. Archer and E. Binney, Rajput Miniatures from the Collection of Edwin Binney, 3rd, Portland 1968, nos. 51 and 52; Sotheby's, Indian and Persian Miniatures, 27th March 1973, lots 65-100, esp. lot 92.A translation of the text, given to the seller by an unnamed curator at the British Museum in the 1970s, is as follows:Elegant Kakubha pines for her absent lover.She has left her house and come to a groveWhere blossom many flowers and trees.She has made a beautiful garland.Monkeys play around the grove.On a nearby pond lotuses bloom.The incessant crying of peacocks attracts her.Her mind and body are nobly concerned with her lover.A wave of emotion wells up within her,Making her thirst for a kiss from her prince.She ponders on love-making.Her eyes thirst for a sight of him.Thus distressed Kakubha burnsWith the fire of separation.