Pradyumna Enters the Palace of the Demon Sambar and Challenges him to Battle, page from a Dispersed Bhagavata Purana manuscript
c. 1775
Medium
Opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions
36.2 × 52.7 cm (14 1/4 × 20 3/4 in.)
Classification
miniature painting
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
46266
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Pradyumna (painted in blue), now grown up and dressed as a young crowned prince, stands at the center of the painting with his arms spread wide, as he challenges the demon Sambar enthroned in a pavillion (in dark blue top and red skirt at upper left). The demon emerges in the field behind the palace and ascends the clouds. He showers the young Pradyumna with a massive hale of magical, illusionary weapons of flames, swords, daggers, arrows, hail, and stones- but all to no avail. In the end (not s...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...