Ruknuddin, 1666 – 1697

Ruknuddin Paintings: The 6 Most Famous Works, Ranked

Ruknuddin's most famous painting is Kedar Ragini: Folio from a ragamala series (Garland of Musical Modes) (1692), in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. With Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner (reigned 1669–98) Receives a Courtier (1690) and Krishna and the Gopis, folio from a dispersed manuscript of the Rasikapriya of Keshavadas (1690), it completes the three works everyone recognises. Our catalogue lists 6 works by Ruknuddin; the 6 below are the ones the world looks at most, each with its year, the museum that holds it and why it matters.

Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated November 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.

Portrait of Ruknuddin
Ruknuddin · 1666 – 1697
Born · died
1666 – 1697, Bikaner
Works in our catalogue
6
Most famous
Kedar Ragini: Folio from a ragamala series (Garland of Musical Modes) (1692)
Most works at
Cleveland Museum of Art

The 10 most famous Ruknuddin paintings

Kedar Ragini: Folio from a ragamala series (Garland of Musical Modes) (1692) by Ruknuddin
1

Kedar Ragini: Folio from a ragamala series (Garland of Musical Modes)

1692 · Watercolor · Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

A tranquil nocturnal scene unfolds under a thin crescent moon and scattered white stars. A large, lush green tree dominates the vertical axis, its foliage rendered with fine, precise lines characteristic of the Bikaner school. Beneath this canopy, two figures occupy a grassy landscape, seated upon patterned mats. On the left, a dark-skinned male figure sits in profile, his expression contemplative as he holds a stringed instrument. To the right,…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $206 27 × 37 cm
Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner (reigned 1669–98) Receives a Courtier (1690) by Ruknuddin
2

Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner (reigned 1669–98) Receives a Courtier

1690 · Watercolor · Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland

In this delicate miniature, we find ourselves within the quiet, structured atmosphere of a seventeenth-century court. The scene captures Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner in a moment of formal reception, seated with a composed dignity that defines his station. Before him stands a courtier, a figure of respect whose presence completes the ritual of the encounter. The composition is balanced and intentional, utilizing a centered arrangement that directs the eye…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $206 27 × 37 cm
Krishna and the Gopis, folio from a dispersed manuscript of the Rasikapriya of Keshavadas (1690) by Ruknuddin
3

Krishna and the Gopis, folio from a dispersed manuscript of the Rasikapriya of Keshavadas

1690 · Watercolor · Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge

The air in the grove feels heavy and still, as if the sky itself has held its breath. Under a pale, overcast canopy of grey and blue, Krishna emerges with skin the color of a deep twilight. He wears a yellow dhoti that catches the soft, diffused light, and his crown rests upon his head with a quiet weight. Before him stands a Gopi, her patterned sari a sharp contrast…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $281 27 × 37 cm
Ladies of the Zenana (Womens’ Quarters) on a Terrace at Night (1666) by Ruknuddin
4

Ladies of the Zenana (Womens’ Quarters) on a Terrace at Night

1666 · Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland

About the Artist RuknuddinActive at the court in Bikaner ca. 1650-97. especially under the patronage of Anup Singh Bikaner, a desert town in Rajasthan, is known for a hybrid style that incorporates influences from both the Mughal workshops and the remote Deccan. Relatively little is known about the early phase of this type of painting. Two clans produced the majority of Bikaner’s painters. Ruknuddin, who had an impressively long career,…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $181 26 × 39 cm
Asavari Ragini: Folio from a Ragamala Series (1694) by Ruknuddin
5

Asavari Ragini: Folio from a Ragamala Series

1694

About the Artist RuknuddinActive at the court in Bikaner ca. 1650-97. especially under the patronage of Anup Singh Bikaner, a desert town in Rajasthan, is known for a hybrid style that incorporates influences from both the Mughal workshops and the remote Deccan. Relatively little is known about the early phase of this type of painting. Two clans produced the majority of Bikaner’s painters. Ruknuddin, who had an impressively long career,…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $181 27 × 37 cm
Ladies of the Zenana on a Roof Terrace (1666) by Ruknuddin
6

Ladies of the Zenana on a Roof Terrace

1666

In this scene of harem women amusing themselves on a roof terrace, the artist evoked a comfortable and hedonistic world. The influence of Mughal painting is indisputable, in both the subject matter and the style in which it is rendered. Ruknuddin probably was trained by the Delhi painter ‘Ali Raza; he later replaced him as chief painter in Bikaner. Ruknuddin also spent some time in the Deccan, as inscriptions on…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $181 27 × 38 cm

The subjects Ruknuddin painted most

The four subjects that return most often among these masterpieces, with the finest example of each.

Where to see Ruknuddin's paintings

The 3 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Ruknuddin Paintings from this list
Cleveland Museum of Art, ClevelandCleveland Museum of Art Cleveland 2 Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner (reigned 1669–98) Receives a Courtier, Ladies of the Zenana (Womens’ Quarters) on a Terrace at Night
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkMetropolitan Museum of Art New York 1 Kedar Ragini: Folio from a ragamala series (Garland of Musical Modes)
Harvard Art Museums, CambridgeHarvard Art Museums Cambridge 1 Krishna and the Gopis, folio from a dispersed manuscript of the Rasikapriya of Keshavadas

Ruknuddin's most famous paintings, year by year

Ruknuddin worked for only 5 years, from 1690 to 1694. Here is that short career year by year, through its most famous paintings.

  1. 1690
  2. 1690
  3. 1692
  4. 1694
    Asavari Ragini: Folio from a Ragamala Series (1694) by Ruknuddin
    No. 5 of 6

    Asavari Ragini: Folio from a Ragamala Series

    Age 28

    About the Artist RuknuddinActive at the court in Bikaner ca. 1650-97. especially under the patronage of Anup Singh Bikaner, a desert town in Rajasthan, is known for a…

Questions about Ruknuddin's paintings

What is Ruknuddin's most famous painting?Show the answer

Kedar Ragini: Folio from a ragamala series (Garland of Musical Modes) (1692), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Next come Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner (reigned 1669–98) Receives a Courtier (1690) and Krishna and the Gopis, folio from a dispersed manuscript of the Rasikapriya of Keshavadas (1690).

How old was Ruknuddin when Kedar Ragini: Folio from a ragamala series (Garland of Musical Modes) was painted?Show the answer

26 years old: Kedar Ragini: Folio from a ragamala series (Garland of Musical Modes) dates from 1692 and Ruknuddin was born in 1666.

How many paintings did Ruknuddin make?Show the answer

Our catalogue lists 6 works by Ruknuddin, dated from 1690 to 1694.

Where are Ruknuddin's most famous paintings?Show the answer

Most of them are in Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) and Harvard Art Museums (Cambridge). The table above lists the museums one by one.

When did Ruknuddin paint the most famous works?Show the answer

In 1690: 2 of the 6 works on this page date from then, among them Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner (reigned 1669–98) Receives a Courtier.

What are Ruknuddin's earliest and latest famous paintings?Show the answer

The earliest on this page is Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner (reigned 1669–98) Receives a Courtier (1690), the latest Asavari Ragini: Folio from a Ragamala Series (1694).

What medium did Ruknuddin use most?Show the answer

Watercolor: 3 of the 6 works on this page.

Which Ruknuddin paintings can I see at the Cleveland Museum of Art?Show the answer

Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner (reigned 1669–98) Receives a Courtier and Ladies of the Zenana (Womens’ Quarters) on a Terrace at Night are among the 2 works on this page held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland.

Can I buy a reproduction of a Ruknuddin painting?Show the answer

Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.

About Ruknuddin

early life and career

ruknuddin, a celebrated artist of the bikaner painting atelier, was born in 1666 in india. he is known for his exquisite mastery of brushwork and portraiture, which defined the bikaner school in the second half of the seventeenth century.

artistic style and influences

ruknuddin's work is characterized by a unique blend of mughal and deccan influences, reflecting the hybrid style of the bikaner atelier. his long and established career was marked by his rise to the position of workshop director under the ruler anup singh (r. 1669–98). this close contact with the mughal shaili infused his personal style with a romantic and delicate quality.

notable works

* ruknuddin's asavari ragini: folio from a ragamala series (1694) is a notable example of his work, showcasing his mastery of watercolor. this painting can be found in the collection at WahooArt's ruknuddin gallery. * another significant piece, kedar ragini, demonstrates ruknuddin's skill in capturing the essence of bikaner's unique style.

legacy and significance

ruknuddin's contributions to the bikaner school have been instrumental in shaping the region's artistic identity. his influence can be seen in various aspects of indian art, from the use of watercolor to the emphasis on portraiture. experience the beauty of ruknuddin's bikaner paintings with WahooArt's expertly crafted reproductions.