The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

Sindhu Raga

c. 1720

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Mewar

Gum tempera and ink on paper
Overall: 48.1 x 27.9 cm (18 15/16 x 11 in.)
Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski 2004.110
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

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.

Description

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.
  • by 1975
    George Bickford [1901–1991], Cleveland Heights, OH
    ?–2004
    Dr. Norman Zaworski [1920–2013], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2004–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Lee, Sherman E. and George Montgomery. Rajput Painting; with an introductory essay and catalogue notes. New York: Asia House, 1960. Reproduced p. 28; plate 19
    Gangoly, O. C. [Ordhendra Coomar]. Rāgas & Rāginīs: A Pictorial & Iconographic Study of Indian Musical Modes Based on Original Sources. Calcutta: Kumar Printers, 1966. Reproduced: vol. II, pl. 1
    Czuma, Stanislaw J. Indian Art from the George P. Bickford Collection: Catalog. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1975. cat. no. 65
    Reddy, Ravinder. Arms & Armour of India, Nepal & Sri Lanka: Types, Decoration and Symbolism. London: Hali Publications, 2018. Reproduced: p. 41
  • Martial Art of India. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (February 11-August 21, 2022).
    Indian Art from the George P. Bickford Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (January 14-February 16, 1975).
  • {{cite web|title=Sindhu Raga|url=false|author=|year=c. 1720|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2004.110