Artwork
Illustrations to Life of Dhurva Maharaj: #11 Dhurva travels from place to place in Rishi garb
Illustrations to Life of Dhurva Maharaj: #11 Dhurva travels from place to place in Rishi garb is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
The work, part of a series illustrating the life of Dhurva Maharaj, depicts a lone figure in yellow robes moving through a gentle, rolling countryside. The composition places the traveler amid hills and trees, accompanied by a variety of wildlife, while a muted palette and soft outlines lend the scene a calm, contemplative mood.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, identified as Dhurva Maharaj, is shown on a spiritual pilgrimage, carrying a staff and a pot that suggest ascetic practice. The surrounding deer, tiger and dogs appear attentive, underscoring a harmonious relationship between the sage and the natural world, a common motif in hagiographic narratives.
Technique & Style
Executed with delicate brushwork, the painting relies on subtle tonal variations rather than vivid coloration. The artist employs restrained lines to define the landscape and fauna, allowing the figure’s yellow garment to stand out without disrupting the overall subdued atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The piece is part of the Detroit Institute of Arts’ collection, where it is displayed among other illustrative works from the same series. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in South Asian narrative art and the visual documentation of saintly lives.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Illustrations to Life of Dhurva Maharaj: #20 God gives Dhurva his throne upon which he can fly anywhere
Illustrations to Life of Dhurva Maharaj: #22 Dhurva reaches the mountain of gold where 7 sacred Rishis who are called the Seven Stars receive him
Illustrations to Life of Dhurva Maharaj: #9 God deputes Narada to examine Dhurva Maharaj's truthfulness
Illustrations to Life of Dhurva Maharaj: #21 Dhurva is shown flying on his throne, and on another, the greatest power in the world, Vishnu
Illustrations to Life of Dhurva Maharaj: #23 Dhurva sits on the golden mountain in concentration and meets his parents and the 7 Rishis
Illustrations to Life of Dhurva Maharaj: #16 All of them go to Dhurva hoping to break his concentration, and to deter him in his mission of seeing God
Maharana Amar Singh of Mewar