The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 20, 2024

Seven Heroes or Warriors Killing Abhimanya, Son of Arjuna

Seven Heroes or Warriors Killing Abhimanya, Son of Arjuna

c. 1890
Secondary Support: 49.9 x 30 cm (19 5/8 x 11 13/16 in.); Painting only: 45.6 x 27.7 cm (17 15/16 x 10 7/8 in.)
Location: not on view

Description

Abhimanyu (son of Arjuna and Subhadra, nephew of Krishna) is a tragic figure from the epic Mahabharata (The Great History of the Descendants of Bharat). As a fetus in his mother’s womb he hears how to penetrate the Chakravyuha, a circular pattern of troops, from his father Arjuna who is talking with his mother Subhadra. Noticing that Subhadra is asleep, Arjuna stops speaking and does not explain to her how to escape after attacking it. Abhimanyu thus only has partial knowledge. Here he is depicted as surrounded in the Chakravyuha and about to be killed.
  • ?-2003
    William E. Ward [1922-2004], Solon, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2003-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Indian Kalighat Paintings. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (May 1-September 18, 2011).
  • {{cite web|title=Seven Heroes or Warriors Killing Abhimanya, Son of Arjuna|url=false|author=|year=c. 1890|access-date=20 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2003.144