Page 14 - Bonhams NYC Indian and Himalayan Art March 2019

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AN ILLUSTRATION FROM A BHAGAVATA PURANA SERIES: AN ILLUSTRATION FROM A MAHABHARATA SERIES:
KRISHNA SUBDUES THE BULL DEMON ARISTASURA THE GANGES FLOWING FROM KRISHNA’S TOE
MEWAR, CIRCA 1800 BIKANER, CIRCA 1600-1610
Opaque watercolor on paper. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; inscribed in Devanagari verso,
Folio: 7 x 13 1/4 in. (17.8 x 33.6 cm) translated:
“O master of the entire universe! O Sri Hari! O Keshava! Assuming the
$6,000 - 8,000 form of a dwarf, you cheat King Bali on the pretext of begging for three
Against a red background on the left, the citizens of Vrindaban ask paces of land. The population of the universe has become purified by the
Krishna to destroy the bull-demon Aristasura, and against a green water that touched your toenails (the Ganges). O wonderful Vamanadeva,
background on right, Krishna accomplishes this feat of divine strength, may you be victorious! Ganga is flowing from the foot of Vishnu.”
flipping the ruinous bull-demon by his horns.Five other pages from the Image: 5 1/4 x 8 3/4 in. (13.3 x 22.2 cm);
same series were sold at Sotheby’s, London, 27 March 1973, lots 103-7 Folio: 6 5/8 x 10 in. (16.8 x 25.4 cm)
and Christie’s, London, 25 April 2018, lot 97. A further twenty-eight are $8,000 - 10,00
published by Goswamy and dated 1800 (Indian Paintings in the Sarabhai
Foundation), Ahmedabad, 2010, pp.141-6, nos.R45-73. The saint Bhagiratha, Balarama, and a devotee witness the sacred river
Ganges stream from Krishna’s toe. On the right register, the sage Jahu
Provenance performs a fire sacrifice. Compare stylistically related paintings in the
Private Collection, New York Cleveland Museum of Art (2018.189), and sold at Christie’s London, 15
Bonhams, New York, 19 March 2012, lot 1212 October 1996, lot 38.
Private Collection, Texas
Provenance
Ex-Collection Raja of Issarda
Private European Collection
Christie’s, London, 23 April 1981, lot 9
Bonhams, London, 2 October 2012, lot 165
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