Krishna chase Nikumbha - A painting of people riding on horses in a field

India, Kangra or Guler circa 1820 The present and three following illustrations are from the Vishnu Parva of the Mahabharata which recounts the struggle between Krishna and the demon Nikumbha. Here we see Nikumbha, who has assumed the form of a giant bird, carrying the princess Bhanumati in his talons while Krishna, Arjuna and Pradyumna are in hot pursuit. To evade the shower of arrows released by his pursuants, Nikumbha creates a wall of smoke before them. For other illustrations depicting this scene, see Sotheby's New York, September 19, 2006, lot 15 and March 19, 2008, lot 209. Opaque watercolor heightened with gold on paper
Notes: PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE GERMAN COLLECTION
Provenance: Acquired from the Royal Library of Mandi in 1969

Dimensions: measurements image 12 3/4 by 16 3/4 in. (32.5 by 42 cm.) alternate measurements folio 14 1/2 by 18 5/8 in. (37 by 47.2 cm.) unframed