Northern India, Pahari kingdoms / c. 1760–70
King Bana in his court, from an Usha-Aniruddha
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs King Bana in his court, from an Usha-Aniruddha as painting (Northern India, Pahari kingdoms · c. 1760–70).
Clara Taplin Rankin, the donor of this painting, was a trustee of the CMA as well as the Musical Arts Association and the Cleveland Institute of Music.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as Gum tempera and ink on paper.
The museum's collection notes: This portrait of a demon king depicts him listening to the report of one of his ministers. He may be hearing the news that his daughter Usha has been secretly receiving Krishna’s grandson Aniruddha in her bedchamber. The artist has depicted Bana with his 20 arms emerging like tentacles from his body. The members of his multicolored demon court are imaginatively rendered combinations of beasts and humans. In the background, demons harass holy men by burning their huts and chasing them away from their settlements.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtKing Bana in his court, from an Usha-AniruddhaOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.