DURGA BATTLES THE DEMON MAHISHASURA IN THE AIR

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A SET OF FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE MARKANDEYA PURANA The paintings in this series are illustrations to a grouping of three chapters of the Markandeya Purana known as the Devi Mahatmya. This section relates how the Gods ask for the help of the female deity Devi to help them defeat the powerful demon Mahishasura. The illustrations follow the epic battle between Devi and the demon. This ultimately culminates in Devi assuming a darker aspect represented by the fearsome dark-skinned goddess Kali to vanquish the demon. Other paintings from this series are illustrated by E. Smart and D. Walker, Pride of the Princes: Indian Art of the Mughal Era in the Cincinnati Art Museum, 1986, cat. no. 53; and L. Leach, Indian Miniature Paintings and Drawings: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1986, cat. no. 116. Another painting from this same series was sold at Christie's, New York, 17 September 1999, lot 265. Two others sold more recently in these Rooms, 13 April 2010, lots 293 and 292.

DURGA BATTLES THE DEMON MAHISHASURA IN THE AIR

GULER, PUNJAB HILLS, NORTH INDIA, CIRCA 1790

Details

DURGA BATTLES THE DEMON MAHISHASURA IN THE AIR
GULER, PUNJAB HILLS, NORTH INDIA, CIRCA 1790
Gouache heightened with gold on paper, multi-armed Durga battles the red-skinned demon Mahishasura in the sky, with a further depiction of the demon fallen to the ground, the lion mount of Durga to the left, marked '25' in red devanagri numerals on the reverse, within black rules on buff margins
Painting 7 x 10½in. (17.8 x 26.6cm.); folio 8 x 11 3/8in. (20 x 28.8cm.)

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