Kusha Kills Lakshmana

Currently not on view

Kusha Kills Lakshmana

1616-1617

Ascribed to Fazl (Indian, active early 17th century)

The Razmnama (Book of Wars) is Emperor Akbar's Persian translation of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The patron of this edition of the Razmnama was the powerful 'Abd al-Rahim, the commander-in-chief of the imperial Mughal army who himself sponsored a notable painting workshop. 'Abd al-Rahim's manuscript follows the Persian format of integrating text blocks into the illustration. This page depicts a subplot featuring characters from another Hindu epic, the Ramayana. Kusha, one of Rama's forsaken twin sons, is shown just after he has shot a magical arrow through his uncle Lakshmana, Rama's brother, who falls from his chariot as he dies.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Kusha Kills Lakshmana
Page from a dispersed manuscript of the Razmnama (Book of War)

Date:

1616-1617

Artist:

Ascribed to Fazl (Indian, active early 17th century)

Medium:

Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper

Dimensions:

Image: 14 3/8 × 8 1/4 inches (36.5 × 21 cm) Sheet: 15 1/8 × 8 7/8 inches (38.4 × 22.5 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

125th Anniversary Acquisition. Alvin O. Bellak Collection, 2004

Accession Number:

2004-149-16

Geography:

Made in Deccan Region, India, Asia Probably made in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, Asia

Context:

Dynasty: Mughal Dynasty (1526-1858)

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Currently not on view