Cleveland Museum of Art

Sindhu Raga

Date

c. 1720

Medium

Gum tempera and ink on paper

Culture

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Mewar

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The inscription at the top identifies this painting as Sindhu Raga, which is the raga (or musical mode) of heroic sentiment. The painting is meant to elicit the same feelings in the viewer as a rousing piece of music played in the Sindhu key. Paintings of Sindhu Raga depict battle scenes. In this example, the composition conveys the chaotic melee and violence of war. Heads are being lopped off; carrion birds swoop down unfazed. Above the horizon against the sky at the far right is the god of war, Karttikeya, in his chariot. Three angels carry garlands for the dead. Most of the warriors are on horseback and are armed with bows and arrows, swords, lances, and shields, as well as rifles. Two elephants appear in the foreground.

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