This print is based on a miniature painting in Garhwal style by hand of Mola Ram (1743-1833), a fourth generation of Das dynasty of Mughal painters at Shahjahan imperial atelier. In 1658 they settled in Srinagar as tasbirdar at the court of Raja Prithipat Shah (1625-1660).
A love theme Mana of Radha follows conventions of Nayaka-Nayika-Bheda, Love in Separation, Sringara and Baramasa aesthetic, and is also inspired by works of Vidyapati, Keshav Das, Bihari Lal and Guru Govind Singh.
It is the beginning of a month of Chaitra with cooing of doves and blossoming trees and creepers, but Radha, representative of Abhisandhita, is estranged by a quarrel. She is portrayed seated in a gallery with bent back, hanging head and expression of sorrow and gloom on her face. A pale mauve peshwaj trimmed in gold, saffron muslin ekpatta with golden borders, jewelled ornaments, light gold carpet and scarlet brocade bolsters are in striking contrast to a love in separation sentiment.
In the courtyard a repentant Krishna tries to convince her of his complete surrender and devotion. He wears a jewelled crown mukut with peacock feathers, golden yellow pitambara and dupatta trimmed in gold zari and complemented by pearl earrings and necklace, pendant, armlets and bracelets jewelled with precious stones.
A dark blue night sky, glimpse of a dim moon, leafless kachnar tree and white marble turret with a domed chattri denote a manini nayika symbolism.
Another scene depicts Radha accompanied by three sakhis who coax and cajole her to relent. She still looks dejected and displeased but Krishna's sweet words and assurance of loyalty and love seemingly persuaded her to reconcile.
The miniature is rendered with fresh and delicate colours of crimson red, scarlet, golden yellow, mauve, emerald green, dark blue and white characteristic of Garhwal palette. It would be executed by Mola Ram around 1780s at his workshop in Srinagar.
The mounted on cardboard print comes from A Portfolio of Pictures dedicated to Mola Ram, Abanindranath Tagore, Sarada Ukil, Asit Haldar, M. A. R. Chughtai and Promode Kumar Chatterjee which was published in 1930s by I.M.H. Press, Delhi, India. It appears to be the first publication of "Manini Radha" (Kangra Painting) by Molaram with no further reprints.
Condition
The print "Manini Radha" (Kangra Painting) is in excellent antiquarian condition with the exception of slightly bent and faded mount edges (please see the pictures). It comes from a smoke-free home.
Dimensions
- Print: 22.4 cm x 13.7 cm (8.82 in x 5.39 in)
- Cardboard Mount: 38.9 cm x 25.3 cm (15.31 in x 9.96 in)
Provenance
The print has been in a family since it was purchased in the early 1930s by a family member who worked at that time as a professor in English at St. John’s College, Agra.
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