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The Life of Bhishma

© the copyright holder. Image credit: Horniman Museum and Gardens

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Painted wall hanging on canvas depicting scenes from the life of Bhishma. The ground is divided into nine horizontal registers, all but the top one and bottom two divided into two. Each section shows a scene from the narrative. The top register shows King Shantanu. In the second register he meets Ganga, the river goddess and asks her to marry him. She agrees on condition that Shantanu would never question her, no matter what her actions. If he ever breaks his promise, she will leave him for ever. They marry in the next register. Below this, Ganga drowns their children to break a curse on them. In the next register, when Ganga is about to drown their eighth child Bhishma, Shantanu protests. Below this, Ganga, knowing that Bhishma is destined to live a long life, decides not to drown the child, but leaves Shantanu, promising to bring the child back when he is grown up.

Horniman Museum and Gardens

Forest Hill

Title

The Life of Bhishma

Date

c.1997

Medium

pigment on calico laid on canvas

Measurements

H 248 x W 105 cm

Accession number

2004.69

Acquisition method

unknown acquisition method

Work type

Painting

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Horniman Museum and Gardens

100 London Road, Forest Hill, Greater London SE23 3PQ England

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