Fattu, eldest son of Manaku
The Siege of Mathura by Jarasandha

CultureIndian
Titles
  • The Siege of Mathura by Jarasandha
  • from the series Bhagavata Purana
Date1769
PlaceJammu and Kashmir, India
MediumGouache with gold on paper
DimensionsSheet: 11 3/4 × 15 7/8 in. (29.8 × 40.3 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by Ann Roff, Isla and Tommy Reckling, Barbara E. Butler, and various other donors
Object number2008.293
Non exposé

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Department
Asian Art
Object Type
Description

This painting is part of a series of illustrations based on the Bhagavata Purana, the Hindu epic that details the exploits and adventures of Lord Krishna. This scene depicts the battle that took place after Krishna killed the demonic king Kamsa, who ruled over the city of Mathura.


Kamsa's two wives, Asti and Prapti, were the daughters of the mighty Jarasandha, King of Magadha in the east. Upon hearing that Kamsa had been murdered, Jarasandha swore revenge against Krishna and led his army to attack Mathura, where Krishna remained. Here, Krishna and his brother Balarama prepare to face the formidable enemy as Jarasandha’s army prepares to storm the fortress walls. Though Jarasandha and his army fight boldly, in the end they are no match for Krishna and Balarama.


ProvenanceProvenance: Cathy Benkaim Collection, Beverly Hills, circa 1970

Exhibition History"Shahzia Sikander: Extraordinary Realities," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, March 20–June 5, 2022.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Verso: inscribed with four lines of gurmukhi text and seven lines of Sanskrit text. Sheet is mounted on all four corners - unable to photograph.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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