Death of Bali – (Kangra Paintings) Previous Next


Artist:

Date: 1800

Size: 23 x 32 cm

Museum: Toledo Museum of Art (Toledo, United States)

Technique: Drawing

An emotional scene of grief and pathos, The Death of Bali depicts an incident from the Ramayana, one of the great epics of Indian literature. The painting originally adorned a manuscript of a volume of the story. In search of his kidnapped love Sita, the hero Rama has befriended the king of the monkeys, Sugriva, whose throne has been taken by his evil brother Bali. Rama promises to help Sugriva regain his throne if he and his followers will help search for Sita. Sugriva agrees and then challenges Bali. Just as Sugriva seems to be losing the battle, Rama intervenes, mortally wounding Bali with an arrow.The painting depicts the moment when Bali, close to death, admonishes Rama for shooting him. Rama, dressed in a leafy skirt and accompanied by his brother Laksmana, is unrepentant, declaring that Bali deserves to die for usurping Sugriva

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