AN INDIAN ILLUSTRATION TO A RAGAMALA SERIES: DIPAK RAGA India, 1780-1860. Watercolor, gouache, ink, and gilt on paper. A couple embracing on a bed at night, surrounded by female musicians and attendants, all in a marble pavilion lit by candles in the foreground and covered by a red marquee.

Provenance: French trade. An inventory number 'No. 110' to the back.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear, minuscule abrasions, few spots, and minor soiling. Laid down on thin cardboard.

Dimensions: Size 17.9 x 24 cm

Depictions of Dipak Raga generally feature a couple in the presence of a lamp or a flame. Dipak means lamp or flame, and this raga is a celebration of light. Instead of fire, the artist has chosen the soft warmth of candlelight, heightening the seductive feel of this scene.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's London, 10 June 2013, lot 36
Price: GBP 6,250 or approx. EUR 9,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A painting from a Ragamala series: Dipak Raga, India, Mughal period, circa 1780
Expert remark: Compare the motif. Note the larger size (29.3 x 18.5 cm).