.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
A painting of the same ragini from the Johnson Album, made in Lucknow circa 1780-82, is illustrated in Toby Falk and Mildred Archer, Indian Miniatures in the India Office Library, Sotheby's, London, 1981, no.349xxiii, p.349).
Another illustration with the same main components - a dead elephant lying at the feet of Krishna who stands triumphantly tusk in hand before two hunters - is in the Bertrand Kumar Collection and attributed to the Deccan, 18th century. That painting is described by Klaus Ebeling: "The painting implies that it once was an elephant hunter's song to honor the slayer of the elephant. The painter of this picture equates the courage to slay an elephant with Lord Krishna" (Ragamala Painting, Basel, 1973, no.C29, pp.82-83).
Another illustration with the same main components - a dead elephant lying at the feet of Krishna who stands triumphantly tusk in hand before two hunters - is in the Bertrand Kumar Collection and attributed to the Deccan, 18th century. That painting is described by Klaus Ebeling: "The painting implies that it once was an elephant hunter's song to honor the slayer of the elephant. The painter of this picture equates the courage to slay an elephant with Lord Krishna" (Ragamala Painting, Basel, 1973, no.C29, pp.82-83).