Artwork

The First Adventure of the White Horse, Page from the Khan Khanan's Razm Nama (Book of Wars)

The First Adventure of the White Horse, Page from the Khan Khanan's Razm Nama (Book of Wars) is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1614 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting is a page from the Khan Khanan's Razm Nama, a retelling of the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata.

Accession no.: 1964.52
Credit line: James Parmelee Fund

About this work

Overview

This painting is a page from the Khan Khanan's Razm Nama, a retelling of the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. It depicts a scene from the horse sacrifice ritual, a Vedic ceremony to determine the extent of a king's territory.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows Arjuna, a Pandava brother, following a white horse as it moves through a landscape. The horse's path is blocked by a river of fire created by Agni, the god of fire, whom Arjuna attempts to appease.

Technique & Style

The composition is dynamic, with a diagonal river of fire separating multicolored rocky outcrops. The use of gold for the landscape and fire adds to the dramatic effect.

Context

The painting is part of a larger manuscript that illustrates the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic. The Razm Nama is a Persian translation and adaptation of this epic.