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Kamakandala dies on hearing the news of Madhava’s death, folio 19 from a Madhavanala-Kamakandala of Alam

Unknown

1720

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque Mughal Painting 18th Century Religious

Dominant colour

Kamakandala dies on hearing the news of Madhava’s death, folio 19 from a Madhavanala-Kamakandala of Alam is a 1720 unspecified by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1720 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

A woman collapses on the floor while others wail around her. A man in fine clothes watches, his face serious. The scene is packed with bright colors and gold details. This painting tells a story from a long poem about love and loyalty. The king tests the woman’s love by lying about her lover’s death. When she hears the news, she dies too—her grief is that strong. The artist shows every emotion in small, careful brushstrokes. To see more works like this, look up Pahari kingdoms.

The story of this work

Overview

Having seen how desperately Madhava loves Kamakandala, King Vikrama decides to test Kamakandala to ensure she loves him equally. Time is compressed in this scene. King Vikrama is shown delivering the false news that Madhava died from a broken heart. In response, Kamakandala faints, and her friend sees that her tongue has turned black, according to the poem. Kamakandala then dies, and her friends cry and wail, letting their hair loose in an act of mourning; the king’s groom looks downcast. At the end, Madhava dies after hearing of Kamakandala’s death. King Vikrama is seized with deep regret,…