A large painting of a nobleman carrying an adholoka

INDIA, RAJASTHAN, 19TH CENTURY

Details

A large painting of a nobleman carrying an adholoka
India, Rajasthan, 19th century
A bejeweled nobleman holding a large adhaidvipa at center, four couples in orange chakras on either side of his head and seven prone figures between his ankles
Opaque pigments and gold on paper
70½ x 41 in. (179 x 104 cm.)

Provenance

Collection of Ariane Dandois, Paris, acquired between 1973-1975

Lot Essay

This example depicts a figure of royalty holding a large disc representing the entire adhaidvipa, with certain features such as the double Mount Merus and their associated mountain ranges on the second and third continents clearly indicated by bright yellow discs. It is a variation of a lokapurusha, in that it emphasizes man's relationship to the middle world over his general place correlation to the cosmos.

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