Krishna Advising on the Horse Sacrifice (front); Preparing the Army to Follow the Sacrificial Horse (back)

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Krishna Advising on the Horse Sacrifice (front); Preparing the Army to Follow the Sacrificial Horse (back)

19th century

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Many of the narratives illustrated in picture-story paintings were local versions adapted from classical Hindu sources. This double-sided page shows scenes from a popular story based on an episode in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandava brothers, wanted to perform the Ashvamedha (horse-sacrifice), in which a special horse would be allowed to wander freely for a year. Anyone who challenged the horse's freedom would face the accompanying Pandava army, led by the youngest Pandava brother, Prince Arjuna. These paintings show preparations for the sacrifice. On the front, three heroes present an elaborately ornamented horse to the Pandavas' court, where they seek advice from the four-armed deity Krishna. On the back, the cavalry prepares to follow the sacrificial horse in its wanderings.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Krishna Advising on the Horse Sacrifice (front); Preparing the Army to Follow the Sacrificial Horse (back)
Probably from a picture-story series of the Shri Jaimini Ashvamedha episode of the Mahabharata

Date:

19th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Opaque watercolor on paper

Dimensions:

Image (a): 11 5/8 × 15 11/16 inches (29.5 × 39.8 cm) Sheet: 12 1/2 × 17 inches (31.8 × 43.2 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994

Accession Number:

1994-148-539a,b

Geography:

Made in Deccan Region, India, Asia Possibly made in Andhra Pradesh, India, Asia Possibly made in Karnataka, India, Asia Possibly made in Telangana, India, Asia

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Currently not on view