Arts of the Islamic World
Arts of the Islamic World
Auction Closed
October 23, 04:16 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 25,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A GROUP OF NINE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM A DEVI SERIES, INDIA, MANDI, CIRCA 1770
gouache heightened with gold on paper
(9)
painting: 25.4 by 34.9cm.
leaf: 29.8 by 39cm.
Acquired from the Royal Mandi Library in 1969.
Ex-private collection, Germany.
Sotheby's New York, 19 March 2008, lot 203 (part of the lot).
The present group includes a number of illustrations depicting various episodes from the Devi Mahatmya.
Rishi Markandeya, the composer of the Markandeya Purana and the Devi legends, is pictured here with his pupil, invoking the blessings of the Great Goddess who then appears in her beauteous form of Ambika or Narayani.
Most of the illustrations in this group feature the struggle between Devi and the demon Shumbha. According to the legend, Shumbha along with his brother Nishumbha had vanquished the Gods after receiving a boon of invincibility from Brahma. He was enraptured by the beauty of Devi as soon as he set eyes on her and proposed marriage to her. Devi rebuffed him stating that she would only marry one whom she had defeated in battle. In the ensuing struggle, Devi is victorious and she restores the Gods their kingdom. These illustrations are from the second part of the Devi Mahatmya.