AN ILLUSTRATION TO A RAGAMALA SERIES: SHRI RAGA Datia, Madhya Pradesh, ca. 1725 Opaque pigments heightened with gold and black and red ink on paper, an interior scene depicting a nobleman with his consort enjoying traditional music played by female musicians, two attendants on the right with a peacock's feather whisk and a tray with rosewater sprinklers, the architecture finely decorated with floral tendrils and geometric motifs, the top with 8ll. of black and red ink Devanagari script against ochre yellow ground, set in bright red borders, 33.3cm x 26.6cm. Provenance: Christie's London, 20 April 1999, lot 340;       Formerly in the Jane Greenough Green Collection. Shri Raga is one of the six male Ragas (musical modes) which is to be played during the fourth parahar (Indian unit of time) of the day, coinciding with sunset. Part of the Purvi thaat, this raga has traditionally been associated with Lord Shiva. The mood it conveys is one of majesty combined with prayerful meditation. All these characteristics are masterfully portrayed in this painting. The nobleman holding a flower which is gently closed symbolises the end of the day and the sky above is darkening with the fading light represented by gold highlights. For a similar example from the same collection, please see lot 212.