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AN ILLUSTRATION FROM A BHAGAVATA PURANA SERIES: KING BAGIRATHA PLEADS WITH SHIVA TO BREAK GANGA'S FALL BIKANER, MID 18TH CENTURY image 1
AN ILLUSTRATION FROM A BHAGAVATA PURANA SERIES: KING BAGIRATHA PLEADS WITH SHIVA TO BREAK GANGA'S FALL BIKANER, MID 18TH CENTURY image 2
Lot 647

AN ILLUSTRATION FROM A BHAGAVATA PURANA SERIES:
KING BAGIRATHA PLEADS WITH SHIVA TO BREAK GANGA'S FALL
BIKANER, MID 18TH CENTURY

Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art
23 September 2020, 15:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$7,575 inc. premium

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AN ILLUSTRATION FROM A BHAGAVATA PURANA SERIES:
KING BAGIRATHA PLEADS WITH SHIVA TO BREAK GANGA'S FALL

BIKANER, MID 18TH CENTURY
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
9 7/8 x 7 1/2 in. (25 x 19 cm)

Footnotes

In his aspect of Gangadhara, Shiva is the 'Bearer of the Ganga', shown with a waterspout rising from his hair. He calms the Ganga's mighty torrent in response to the pious actions of Bhagiratha's, who kneels before Shiva and is accompanied by Bramha, Hanuman, and another god.
 
The landscape of various green hills divided by small rocky outcrops and dense vegetation was frequently employed in Bikaner by local artists emulating works from the Mughal court of the late 17th century. The opulent gold sash (patka) fanned out over Bagiratha's knees follows a classic Mughal design of three red poppies with green vines (cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1983.494.9). Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner, who fought for the Mughals in the Deccan, was a regular at the court and brought artists who initiated a more refined style at Bikaner, especially artists such as Ruknuddin. Good comparisons between the treatment of the ruler, minor rishis, and large foliage can be found in a painting in the British Museum (1999,1202,0.3.8).

Provenance
Countess Sophy von Holstein Rathlow (sic.), Copenhagen (according to a label on the frame's verso)
Gifted 8 September 1893, 'Til Erick(?) fra Aguete', "From Erick(?) to Aguete" (according to an inscription on the painting's verso)

Additional information

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