Harvard Art Museums > 1960.158: Balarama Destroys Shishupala’s Army Paintings Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Balarama Destroys Shishupala’s Army , 1960.158,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, May 16, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/216061. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 1960.158 Title Balarama Destroys Shishupala’s Army Classification Paintings Work Type painting Date c. 1760-1770 Places Creation Place: South Asia, India, Himachal Pradesh, Guler Culture Indian Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/216061 Physical Descriptions Medium Opaque watercolor and some gold on paper Dimensions 38.8 x 28.7 cm (15 1/4 x 11 5/16 in.) Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gifts for Special Uses Fund Accession Year 1960 Object Number 1960.158 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description In this painting, Balarama, the brother of Krishna, who is the eighth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, is crowned, mounted on an elephant, and fires arrows at members of Shishupala’s army. Shishupala was the evil cousin of Balarama and Krishna. According to the sacred Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, Krishna would pardon Shishupala of 100 offenses. But when he commits the 101st offense, Krishna, with the guidance of Balarama, declares war on Shishupala, which leads to Shishupala’s demise. The story is also recounted in a poem based on the Mahabharata, the Shishupala Vadha, which focuses on the demise of Shishupala. Pahari Style, Guler School. Exhibition History Out of the Hills: Miniature Painting from Himalayan India, Harvard University Art Museums, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, 05/26/1984 - 07/08/1984 Verification Level This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
