Handpainted – “Ashvamedha”: The Horse That Crossed Kingdoms

Provenance

'Ashvamedha' is a handpainted work of a white horse in full flight, its mane and a red sash streaming behind it across a landscape broken into overlapping arcs and bands of colour. The title recalls the ashvamedha, the Vedic royal ritual in which a consecrated horse was set free to roam for a year, and the kingdoms it passed through had to accept the authority of its king or meet his army. The painting shows the horse as that wanderer: alone, richly caparisoned and crossing open country towards a distant fort.

The horse rears forward on its hind legs, head turned towards a great golden sun, wearing a jewelled bridle, layered gold collars hung with tassels and a saddle cloth worked in red and gold. Gold bands wrap its legs. Behind it, rows of spears and red pennants rise from the hills on either side, and a fortified citadel stands on the ridge at the right, its own flag lifting in the wind.

Ivory, rust, ochre and deep sage green make a warm, earthy palette, with the gold of the harness as the brightest note. Flat, overlapping planes of colour, laid down by hand, give the composition the look of layered paper, while the sweeping lines of mane and sash carry the eye from left to right. It suits a living room, a study or a hallway with warm, natural tones.

Disclaimer:

• The frames shown are for display purposes only and are not included with the artwork.
• As these are made-to-order designer pieces, expect minor colour variations from the displayed artwork.