Page 91 - Sotheby's Indian Himalayan and Southeast Asian Wroks of Art March 2019
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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION The present group of illustrations feature
Nitya Devis, a group comprising fifteen Tantric
A GROUP OF FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS Goddesses who represent the lunar cycle of
OF NITYA DEVIS the moon. Each Goddess has her own group of
India, Kangra or Guler, circa 1820 energies or Shaktis which help the practitioner
combat and dispel various negative forces and
Opaque watercolor on paper heightened with gold afflictions. The complete circle of the Nityas,
folio: 11½ by 9⅛ in. (29.2 by 23.2 cm.) and corresponding to the full lunar cycle, is also
slightly smaller, [4], unframed, (2) illustrated known as Kalachakra or the Wheel of Time.
image: 9⅜ by 7 in. (23.7 by 18 cm.) and
slightly smaller Pictured are Bherunda Devi identifiable by her
golden skin, and Kameshwari bearing a bow and
PROVENANCE arrow. Also in the group are Mahavajreshwari,
Sotheby’s New York, March 19, 2008, lot 220. who carries an elephant goad and the Goddess
Private German Collection. Tripura, who is at the epicenter of this tantric
Acquired from the Royal Library of Mandi in 1969. cycle, clad in white and bearing rosary,
manuscript and lotus in her hands.
$ 30,000-50,000
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