Page 227 - March 23 2022 Boinghams NYC Indian and Himalayan Art

494
A PAINTING OF DURGA SLAYING THE DEMON MAHISHASURA
INDIA, RAJASTHAN, JODHPUR, 1820-1840
Folio 15Ω x 11º in. (39.4 x 28.6 cm.)
Image 14Ω x 10º in. (36.8 x 26 cm.)
$10,000-15,000
PROVENANCE:
Sas Cornette De Saint Cyr, 31 October 2017, Lot 160.
This dynamic painting represents Durga Mahishasuramardini, or Durga the
Killer of Mahishasura. Mahushasura is depicted here as half-buffalo, half-man;
his buffalo head already severed, Durga is violently slashing at his human torso
with a myriad of weapons. Vishnu and Shiva, along with two hounds, attack
the buffalo portion of the demon body. A shrine sits upon a rocky outcrop in
the distance.
Paintings of this subject are well known from across different Rajasthani
schools. A Mewar sketch of the subject in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
(acc. no. 2008.359.8) dated to circa 1760 illustrates a remarkably similar
composition to the present lot, with great stylistic variation.

The Goddess Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon, Mahisha (Mahishasura
Mardini); India, Rajasthan, Mewar, circa 1760; the Metropolitan Museum
of Art, 2008.359.8.

224 225