Northern India, Pahari kingdoms / c. 1790–1800
Bhima’s consultation with the astrologer, from a Nala-Damayanti
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Bhima’s consultation with the astrologer, from a Nala-Damayanti as painting (Northern India, Pahari kingdoms · c. 1790–1800).
This drawing is part of a series of forty-eight, most of which are held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as Gum tempera and ink on paper.
The museum's collection notes: In the central pavilion, King Bhima, father of Princess Damayanti, receives favorable signs from his astrologers for her marriage to her beloved, Nala. In the upper left corner, King Bhima tells the good news to his daughter, while messengers inform Nala in the upper right. This lyrical series depicts scenes from an extended romantic poem of the 1100s, based on an episode from the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata . The plan to create a painted series illustrating the story was not fully realized. Forty-seven paintings were completed, but another 65, including this page, remain unfinished, revealing underdrawings and the first application of color.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtBhima’s consultation with the astrologer, from a Nala-DamayantiOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.