Illustration from a ragamala series

Hindola raga

Signed by Fath Chand

Mughal style at Awadh, 1760-70

Opaque pigments and gold on paper, an empty gold cartouche above, laid down in an ivory album page with gold floral interlace and margin, the latter with green rules

5 ¼ by 3 in., 13.3 by 7.6 cm. painting

11 by 7 in., 28 by 17.9 cm. folio

 

Provenance

Spink & Son, London, 1982

Kevin and Rose Kelly, Dublin; sold Adams, Dublin, 21 June 2011, lot 345

With Peter Blohm, 2011-12

Claudio Moscatelli, London, 2012-17
 

Inscriptions

Inscribed on the painting in nasta’liq: ‘amal-i Fath Chand, and on the border below hindol
 

Hindola raga’s iconography always involves its eponymous swing, but even in Mughal ragamalas the lord occupying the swing is often Krishna.  Here he sits wearing an orange dhoti and a brocade dupatta, bejewelled and beflowered, wearing a crown with a peacock finial, a golden aureole round his head.  He is in a dream world as his hand grasps the two front ropes of his swing, while his attendant gopis, all in skirts, bodices and odhanis, either grasp the others ropes to help the swing along or play and sing.  The scene is set on a terrace at night with dark trees beyond and swirling traces of clouds.

 

THE FAQIRALLAH - FATH CHAND RAGAMALA

The painting comes from a collaborative ragamala set comprising thirty-six paintings, painted with another Mughal artist Faqirallah.  Fath Chand is thought to have painted nineteen of the thirty-six paintings from this ragamala.  Three other paintings from this album, are in the Los Angeles County Museum); the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; and were sold at Brightwells, Herefordshire, 22 March 2017, lot 878.