Gouache painting on paper from a portfolio of sixty-three paintings of deities and daily life. Painting on two sheets of paper, depicting the story of Gajendra, the king of the elephants being attacked by a crocodile in a stream. Viṣṇu’s golden chakra is depicted first flying mid-air and then decapitating the crocodile. Viṣṇu is shown alongside Lakshmi and Garuḍa.

Painting on paper depicting the story of Gajendra, the king of the elephants. The left page is occupied by a dramatic mountain landscape with rugged boulders and forests inhabited by all kinds of animals. On the tallest peak the three kalashas of a temple are visible. A large stream filled with aquatic life feeds a lake in which a fierce crocodile with his fangs firmly planted in Gajendra’s leg drags him into the depths. The distress of the elephant, raising his trunk towards the sky while invoking Vishnu, contrasts with the idyllic surroundings: the lotus flowers dotting the lake and the water fowl peacefully pecking on its banks. The god’s golden chakra is depicted first flying mid-air and then decapitating the crocodile. The right page shows the elephant herd emerging from behind the hills while Gajendra bows at the feet of Vishnu. The god stands on a low pedestal is magnificently dressed and adorned. In his upper right hand he carries the chakra and in his upper left hand the shankha. His lower right hand blesses the elephant and his lower left is in varada (?) mudra. Behind him stands the four-armed goddess Lakshmi carrying lotuses in her upper hands while her lower right is perhaps in vitarka mudra and her lower left rests on her thigh. Garuda with white face and red body stands near the divine couple, his hands folded in anjali mudra. A snake hangs around his neck and he has wings with multicoloured tips. All three deities wear the usual ornaments. At the top right corner of the page a group of deities, all with hands in anjali mudra watch the happenings from the sky.

Company School
Date1820
Painted in: Andhra Pradesh

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