Babhruvahana fights the king of the Nagas, from a Mahabharata

Object Details

• Provenance

  At least 1968-?

  Ralph Benkaim (1914-2001), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-1989

  Greater India Company, Inc. (active 1974-1991), Cambridge, MA, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1989

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, purchase from Greater India Company, Inc. [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See invoice from Terence McInerney of Greater India Company, Inc., dated November 20, 1989, copy in object file. Object is described as “Scene from the Mahabharata.” The provenance for this object is described as “Ex-collection: Ralph Benkaim, Beverley Hills.”

  See also J. LeRoy Davidson, “Art of the Indian Subcontinent from Los Angeles Collections” [exhibition catalogue], (Los Angeles: W. Ritchie Press, 1968), p. 96, fig. 145. Object is described as “Scene from the Mahabharata […] Lent anonymously.” It can be determined that other objects from Ralph Benkaim’s collection were lent anonymously to this exhibition; therefore, it is plausible that this anonymous lender of this object is Ralph Benkaim.

  Ralph Benkaim (1914-2001) was a collector and entertainment lawyer from Los Angeles who started collecting Indian painting in 1961. One of the first works that he collected was a painting from the Deccan that reminded him of his service in Iran during World War II. In the 1970s, Mr. Benkaim met Catherine Glynn Benkaim when Ms. Benkaim was the curator of Indian painting at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The couple were married 1979 and together they created a fine collection of Indian paintings, which included examples from all genres. They acquired objects for their collection through dealers and auctions. Objects from their collection may also be found in the Cleveland Museum of Art, Williams College Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, among others.

  [2] See memo from the Registrar, dated November 21, 1989, copy in object file. The object was transferred from Greater India Company, Inc. (Terence McInerney) to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery for acquisition consideration on November 21, 1989. See also invoice from Greater India Company, Inc., issued by Terence McInerney, dated February 20, 1990, copy in object file.

  Greater India Company, Inc. (active 1974-1991) in Cambridge, MA, was founded by Terence G. McInerney and specialized in Indian and Islamic paintings. Greater India Company, Inc.’s successor company – Terence McInerney Fine Arts, Inc. in New York, NY – was active between 1990 and 2013.

  [3] See Arthur M. Sackler, “Acquisition Consideration Form,” approved on January 26, 1990, copy in object file.

  Research updated July 20, 2023

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Ralph Benkaim (1914-2001)

  Greater India Company, Inc. (active 1974-1991)

• Origin

  Maharashtra state, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1880s, 1890s

• Name

  Benkaim, Ralph, Greater India Company, Inc.

• Place

  Maharashtra state, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Wars, Art, King, Mahabharata, Bow, Snakes

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians, Naga (South Asian people)

• Object Type

  Paintings