Observe the image answer the following questions:

What delightful sign of welcome is shown in the painting?

1) Flower Garland
2) Peacock Feather
3) Raised Trunk of a Dark Elephant
4) Incense Burner

3

Answer: Raised Trunk of a Dark Elephant
A dark elephant in the left-hand corner with a raised trunk as a delightful sign of welcome.

An intriguing work in the collection of National Museum, New Delhi, titled Ragini Pathamsika of Raga Hindola, an important member of the Ragamala family of the Indian musical mode, dates back to around 1590–95. Some scholars believe it to be from Bijapur, an important state of Deccan. Painting was a highly developed art form in the Deccani states, almost simultaneous with the development of the Mughal School of Painting. Persian influence is obvious in the painting. This is seen in the arabesque decoration on the surface of the two domes that delineate the upper part of the painting, where letters written in Devanagari script cover the space. Two beautifully dressed and bejewelled women are seen in the pavilion, while the third is seen outside it. The centrally placed female musician is playing an Indian instrument, which appears to be veena, while the other two on the sides appear to be accompanying with rhythmic sway of their bodies. The colours are vibrant. Red is dominant and is complimented by green. The figures may be said to be stylised in the sense that the character of their physiology, including the face has been almost constructed on formulaic details. Nearly all forms are deeply emphasied with dark line. This is interestingly observable in the mural paintings of Ajanta, too, which were painted centuries ago. What is also to be noted here is a dark elephant in the left hand corner, with a raised trunk, a delightful sign of welcome. Small in scale, the elephant creates visual interest and breaks the architectonic structuring.