Demons Fighting Over an Animal Limb - Late 17th Century

In this painting, set in a fantastic landscape with rocks, trees and a cityscape in the distance, two fearsome demons are seen quarreling over the leg of an animal. In the middle ground, three women dressed in typical Rajput fashion and carrying water pots, are oblivious to the demons in their midst. Demonic of this bizarreness are best known in Central Asian manuscript painting, and indeed this is probably their origin, transmitted to India via Persian models. The painter reveals himself as one trained in Rajasthan, probably in the Bikaner court, who was exposed to Deccani painting, either through travel or by access to Deccan paintings at his patron’s library.

Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Source: metmuseum.org

Khambhavati Ragini, Page from a Dispersed Ragamala Series (Garland of Musical Modes) - Rajasthan, Bikaner, c1675

Artist: Ebrahim, Son of Ruknuddin
Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Source: metmuseum.org

A Lady Applying Henna to Her Raised Foot - Rajasthan, Bikaner, c1720-30

Artist: Ustad Mohamed, son of Murad
Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor on paper
Source: metmuseum.org

A Lady Applying Henna to Her Raised Foot - Rajasthan, Bikaner, c1725

Artist: Ustad Mohamed, son of Murad
Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Source: metmuseum.org

The Gopis Plead with Krishna to Return Their Clothing Folio from a Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of Lord Vishnu) series- Rajasthan, Bikaner, c1610

Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

One of the most popular stories of the Krishna legends, this rendering reflects the subimperial Mughal style that evolved in Bikaner and some other Rajput courts. The artist has employed a limited color scheme, redolent of the indigenous Rajput style, and combined that with landscape elements of Mughal derivation. The translucent treatment of the water is a new innovation, again reflecting an awareness of Mughal naturalism.

Source: metmuseum.org

Page from a Dispersed Rasikapriya (Lover's Breviary) - Rajasthan, Bikaner, c1685

Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold and silver on paper
Source: metmuseum.org

Panchama Ragini, Page from a Dispersed Ragamala Series (Garland of Musical Modes) - Rajasthan, Bikaner, c1640

Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Source: metmuseum.org

Mahadevi, the Great Goddess - Bikaner, Rajasthan c1725

Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and silver on paper
In this twenty-armed form, Mahadevi holds an array of weapons affiliating her with all the male gods, an iconography associated with Durga, the natural opponent of the buffalo demon Mahisha. Here, she is Devi as the protector deity of the ruling household of Bikaner, Rajasthan; the red third eye and the crescent moon in her hair affirm her affiliation with Shiva. Devi appears to be dancing but is actually assuming a warrior’s combatant stance, appropriate to the mood evoked by her arsenal of weapons. She stands on a lotus flower, the traditional iconographic "throne" of Indian deities, denoting purity and sanctity.

Source: metmuseum.org

Eklavya Practicing Archery by Y. G. Srimati - c1945-46

Medium: Watercolor with graphite underdrawing
Source: metmuseum.org

Parashurama, (Rama with the Battle Axe) the Sixth Avatar of Vishnu by Y. G. Srimati - 1946

Medium: Watercolor with graphite underdrawing, applied by brush, on medium-weight wove paper
Source: metmuseum.org

Shiva Gangadhara (Bearer of the Ganga, artist's title Shiva Nataraja) by Y. G. Srimati - c1945