Krishna and Balarama Fight Kamsa's Wrestlers
(early 19th century)
Find out more about King Kamsa at Wikipedia.
From the auction description: Krishna and Balarama Fight the Evil King Kamsa's Wrestlers, scene from the Bhagavata Purana, Indian miniature on card, probably Kangra school [India (Himachal Pradesh), early nineteenth century] Single miniature, gouache on card heightened with gold, image framed within floral border, visible crease along lower right-hand corner with slight loss of pigment, a little rubbed, else good condition overall, margins a little worn with slight loss to extremities (not affecting floral border), a few ink inscriptions to verso, 278 by 320mm. This illustration depicts the fight between Krishna and Balarama and the two wrestlers (said to have limbs as strong as lightning) that were sent by King Kamsa to confront them. The nobility are seated on raised platforms with standing crowds on three other sides forming an enclosed space for the fight. Two figures are playing the drums on the left-hand side, and women overlook the unfolding drama from the balconies within the palace walls. There appear to be two parallel snapshots of this scene present here: (i) the moment Krishna and Balarama are lead into the palace and see the wrestlers warming up for battle, and (ii) the wrestling match in action. Such scenes of conflict often serve as metaphors for Krishna's destruction of corruption.
