AN IVORY CARVING OF ARJUN’S CHARIOT
India, 19th century

21 x 34,5 x 8 cm


Finely carved, the sculpture has a monumental chariot similar to a throne with a seated figure, another figure who is leading the chariot turned back to talk with the other personage, four horses, wooden stand.

Provenance: an Italian private collection.

The present scene is inspired by one of the stories told in the Mahabharata, the most important Indian poem. The figure seated on the throne is Arjun, the greatest archer of his times, who was in force of one of the two fighting parts involved in the main war told in the poem. Worried about the idea to fight against friends and cousins in the opposing faction, Arjun put down his bow and arrow which can be seen on the wooden stand of this sculpture. In that moment the charioteer revealed himself to be Krishna. The deity tells Arjun the Bhaghvadgita (“The Song of the Lord”), explaining the archer that life is only an illusion, also the battles and the dead, and that the only way to live is to follow his duty.