ARTS OF INDIA

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118
117
SHIVA AND PARVATI
KALIGHAT, EASTERN INDIA, LATE 19TH
CENTURY
Opaque pigments on paper, enthroned, he,
wearing a tiger skin, numerous necklaces and
with his long hair matted, with intertwined cobras
around his head and body, his consort on his left
leg richly attired and bejewelled, mounted
18 x 11in. (45.8 x 28cm.)
£2,500-3,500 $3,600-5,000
€3,200-4,400
76
118
KRISHNA SLAYS BAKASURA
KALIGHAT, EASTERN INDIA, LATE 19TH
CENTURY
Opaque pigments on paper, the richly dressed and
bejewelled blue-skinned deity holds the crane’s
beak and slays it
18 x 12in. (45.8 x 30.5cm.)
£2,500-3,500 $3,600-5,000
€3,200-4,400
Our painting shows the well-known scene where
the demon crane is killed by Krishna. Bakasura,
sent by the demon Kamsa to kill Krishna, had
previously swallowed him. However, Krishna
radiated so much heat that Bakasura was forced
to regurgitate him, thus setting him free. Krishna
seized the crane’s beak and tore him apart.
119
A LARGE ICON OF VISHNU RECLINING
ON SHESHA
TANJORE, SOUTH INDIA, LATE 19TH/EARLY
20TH CENTURY
Opaque pigments on paper and gold and silver
leaves applied on board, Vishnu reclines on a
bolster supported by the coils of a naga, protected
by the naga’s head, his consort Lakshmi at his feet,
attendants and worshippers behind and below
36º x 47in. ( 92 x 119.5cm.)
£4,000-6,000 $5,700-8,500
€5,000-7,500
Tanjore is well known for the large depictions of
episodes of the life of Krishna. Here the artist
seems to have departed from the usual subject
and opted to depict Vishnu, of whom Krishna is
one of the ten avatars. Between yugas or eras,
Vishnu reclines on Shesha, the multi-hooded
naga foating on the waters of the primordial
ocean. From the deity’s navel rises the lotus
from which bud Brahma will appear. His consort,
Lakshmi, is often depicted holding or caressing
his feet.