Bhisma
1598
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1598
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Bhisma is a 1598 paint by Husain Ali, a Mughal Painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a group of men gathered outdoors, some sitting, some standing. One man in orange is pointing toward a figure lying on the ground, who looks injured. The scene has bright colors—reds, yellows, and blues—and a rocky hillside in the background. Trees and a few buildings are faintly visible in the distance. The men seem to be discussing something serious, with one person holding a paper. The artist used bold outlines and flat colors, which makes the scene feel lively but also slightly stylized. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this painting in person.
The painting, rendered in opaque watercolor and gold on paper, depicts an illustration from the Razm-nama, a Persian translation of the Mahabharata. It shows the final moments of Bhisma, who lies on a bed of arrows while discoursing with Yudhisthira. The work is part of a series created to accompany the text. The painting was formerly held by Messrs L. Chaundy of Oxford before its acquisition.
Read the full account in the museum source.
This guy painted like he was in a hurry. One hand sketching gods, the other stirring tea. He hid tiny jokes in big scenes—monkeys wearing crowns, kings wearing monkey faces. Look closer at *Bhisma* from 1598 and you’ll…
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