An Illustration from the Bhagavata Purana: Krishna and Balarama vanquish Dhenukasura, the Ass Demon

Estimate

5,000 - 7,000 USD

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Description

An Illustration from the Bhagavata Purana: Krishna and Balarama vanquish Dhenukasura, the Ass Demon
Opaque watercolor heightened with gold on paper
image 8 3/4 by 10 7/8 in. (22.2 by 27.7 cm.)
folio 9 3/8 by 11 1/2 in. (23.9 by 29.2 cm.) unframed

The young Krishna and his cowherd friends are seen amidst a forest of tall trees. Krishna grabs a supine ass by its hind legs while another is suspended from the branches of the tree above.

Provenance

Private Sussex Collection since the 1960s

Catalogue Note

The present lot depicts the story relating the defeat of the demon Dhenukasura. The demon who assumed the form of an ass and lived in the forest of Talavana (lit. palm trees), terrorized anyone who approached the forest and made it uninhabitable. At the behest of their friends, Balarama and Krishna set out to vanquish this demon. As Dhenukasura confronted them, Balarama who was famed for his strength, picked him up by his hind legs and threw him into the treetops killing him instantly. Upon seeing this, the demon’s associates attacked the brothers but they were all dispensed with in a similar manner and vanquished.

Krishna appears to be subduing the last of the demon’s comrades in the present scene.