Page 91 - Bonhams Indian and Himalayan Art September 2013

132
An illustration from a ragamala series: todi ragini
Jaipur, circa 1750
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; with the palace behind her and
surrounded by bountiful flora and fauna, the lady, seated on a glorious
lotus, reaches to pet the tame antelope whilst holding her vina in her
other hand; six lines of devanagari above.
Image: 8 1/4 x 7 1/4 in. (21 x 18.4 cm); Folio: 11 3/4 x 9 3/8 in. (30 x 23.9 cm)
$4,000 - 6,000

Three pages from this series are in the San Diego Museum of Art
(1990.8.851, 855, 856). Another page is in the Los Angeles County
Museum of Art, (M.71.1.42) see Rosenfield, The Arts of India and Nepal,
Boston, 1966, p. 173.

Provenance:
Private Collection, New York
Acquired in Paris in 1980s

133 134
Princess smoking a hookah
Jaipur, 18th century
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; by moonlight, on a terrace
overlooking the lush garden and hills and surrounded with lavish textiles,
the lady holds the hookah pipe with one hand while her arms wrap
around her knees as she listens to the tune her maiden plays.
Image: 9 3/4 x 6 1/4 in. (24.7 x 15.7 cm)
$5,000 - 8,000

Provenance:
Private Collection, New York
Mathias Komor gallery label on the reverse of the frame dated to 13
December 1952

134
An illustration from a bhagavata purana series: Kamsa kills
Devaki’s newborn
North India, late 18th century
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; Kamsa holds the newborn of the
imprisoned Devaki, while Vasudev looks on from the right and guards
occupy the lower level.
Image: 6 1/2 x 6 7/8 in. (16.5 x 17.2 cm); Folio: 16 x 12 5/8 in. (40.7 x 32 cm)
$1,000 - 1,500

This page most likely relates to Kamsa, the evil ruler of Mathura (in
northern India). On the day Kamsa’s sister Devaki was married off to
Vasudeva, an akashvani, or voice from the sky, was heard prophesying
that Devaki’s 8th son would be the destroyer of Kamsa. The frightened
Kamsa immediately unsheathed his sword to kill his sister but Vasudeva
intervened and implored Kamsa to spare his bride, and promised to hand
over every new born child to him. Kamsa relented but imprisoned both
Devaki and her husband Vasudeva. When Devaki gave birth to her first
child, Kamsa came to the prison cell and slaughtered the newborn. In this
way, he killed the first six sons of Devaki.

135 135
Krishna and the gopis play Holi
Rajasthan, early 18th century
Opaque watercolor on paper; Krishna reaches for Radha’s cheek, his
flute holstered, the couple encircled by gopis of various complexions
holding garlands, throwing colored powder, and spraying dyed water in
celebration of Holi.
Folio: 11 x 8 5/8 in. (28 x 21.8 cm)
$2,000 - 3,000

Provenance:
Private East Coast collection
Acquired from Daniel Brooks Gallery, New York, 1973

Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art | 89