DrawingsIndian17th century

Demons Before Kamsa, preparatory drawing for an illustration from the Bhagavata Purana

c. 1635 - 1640

Description

This preparatory drawing features two horned demons conversing with the tyrannical king, Kamsa. In the background, is a charbagh, a quadrilateral garden divided by walkways or water channels, as seen here, into four smaller parts. The channels run from a main fountain at the center. This preparatory drawing might have been made as an aid for the manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana series prepared at the court of Rao Madho Singh (r. 1631–48) of Kota. Forty folios of this unfinished and uninscribed Bhagavata Purana series are now in the Government Museum of Kota collection, and two additional folios at the Victoria and Albert Museum and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Rajput, Rajasthani, Kota School.

Classification

Drawings

Medium

Ink and opaque watercolor on paper

Culture

Indian

Century

17th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

15.3 x 19.8 cm (6 x 7 13/16 in.)

Provenance

Stuart Cary Welch (by 1999 - 2008,) by descent; to his estate (2008-2009,) gift; to Harvard Art Museum. Notes: Object was part of long-term loan to Museum in 1999.