Page 27 - Bonhams NYC Indian and Himalayan Art March 2019

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THE GREAT GODDESS AMBAMATA APPEARS BEFORE BAPPA Although a very popular 8th-century narrative story about the founding
RAWAL of the Mewar empire and Sisodian rule, very few paintings of this
MEWAR, MID 19TH CENTURY subject are recorded. Yet the composition follows a convention
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper. that has remained a constant since the 17th century. For example,
Image: 11 x 7 5/8 in. (28 x 19.3 cm); see Topsfield, Court Paintings of Udpair, Zurich, 2011, p.17, fig.4,
Folio: 12 1/2 x 9 1/8 in. (31.8 x 23.2 cm) and Hutton & Brown, Islamic Art, 1500-Present, Oxon, 2017, p.51,
fig.2.11). The depiction may also revise an alternate account wherein
$5,000 - 7,000 Bappa refuses to receive spit in his mouth from his guru, Harit Rishi,
departing for the heavens in the chariot above. The implication
Surprised by the appearance of the goddess, Ambamata, from the tall being, that Bappa was not promised immortality, only immunity from
stand of reeds, Bappa Rawal has dropped his bowl of gold on his foot, weapons.
leaving a discernable red mark. The bowl of gold was intended for the
shiva eklingji in penance for Bappa’s cow, who had been discharging Bonhams is grateful to Catherine Glynn for her assistance in preparing
milk on the shrine. Ambamata materializes to offer Bappa weapons this entry.
in pursuit of building his empire. In the far distance, a walled lake and
small village with a central shrine depicts Ambamata’s temple. Provenance
Navin Kumar Gallery, New York, 1980s
Private Rhode Island Collection

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