Karna Slays a Demon

Object Details

• Court

  Mysore Court

• School/Tradition

  South Indian school

• Label

  This charged scene is from the Mahabharata (Great Story of the Bharatas), a sacred Hindu epic of ancient India that narrates the great war between two related clans, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. In this scene Karna, mightiest warrior of the Kauravas, slays Ghatotkacha, the giant demon of the Pandavas. On the right, the blue-skinned god Krishna drives the chariot for the Pandava hero Arjuna. Although the artist of this Mahabharata adopted the sharp noses and large, oval eyes of the Vijayanagara court tradition, his style is unique. The figures, which exhibit rounded contours and emphatic modeling, are charged with energy.

  Before paper was introduced into India, manuscripts were written on palm leaves. The horizontal format of this page preserves the shape of a trimmed palm leaf. The text is in Sanskrit, the "refined" ancient literary language of India.

• Provenance

  At least 1969-1975

  N. V. Hammer, Inc., New York, NY, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  From 1975

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased from N. V. Hammer, Inc. [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See incoming receipt, dated December 2, 1969, copy in object file. F1975.4 and F1975.5 were transferred from Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, & Co., London, probably on behalf of N. V. Hammer, Inc., to the Freer Gallery of Art for acquisition consideration on December 2, 1969.

  Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, & Co.’s connection to F1975.4 and F1975.5 is unknown.

  Nathan Vadim Hammer (1917-1980) owned the gallery N.V. Hammer, Inc. in New York City. The son of Russian-Polish immigrants, he joined his father in the family business, United Metal Box Co., which made kitchen and bath cabinetry for higher-end hotels and apartment buildings. In 1942, the company received its first U. S. federal contract for a 1.5 million ammunition boxes. Nathan served as a Vice President for the company for many years, and about 1975 he and his second wife, Marion (Ariowitsch) Hammer (1919-?), relocated to Switzerland, where Marion was born. After Nathan’s death, Marion would continue to sell art and antiquities in her own name.

  Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, & Co. (established 1877), London, was a publisher and bookseller. The firm specialized in Asian and Africa books, as well as Japanese and Chinese prints and paintings. Originally established in 1877 as Kegan Paul & Co. by Charles Kegan Paul (1828-1902), the firm underwent a series of mergers and name changes. Most notably, the firm merged with Routledge & Sons in 1912.

  [2] See object file for copy of N. V. Hammer, Inc., New York, NY, invoice to Freer Gallery of Art, dated May 30, 1975, and marked approved on January 30, 1970. F1975.4 and F1975.5 are both described as, “Indian painting; Krishna in Battle; ca. 1537; ms page from ‘Bhagavata Purana Tanjur.’” The object is part of the museum’s Freer Gallery of Art Collection.

  Research updated February 14, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Masterworks of Indian Painting (December 13, 1997 to June 13, 1998)

  South and South East Asian Art (May 9, 1993 to February 7, 2000)

  A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980 (November 9, 1979 to May 22, 1980)

  Indian Art (January 1, 1963 to January 28, 1981)

• Previous custodian or owner

  N.V. Hammer, Inc.

• Origin

  Probably Seringapatam, Karnataka state, South India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1670s

• Name

  N.V. Hammer, Inc.

• Place

  Seringapatam, Karnataka state, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Wars, Art, Animals, Demon, Elephants

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings