Harvard Art Museums > 1959.209: The Disrobement of Draupadi, from a Mahabharata Series Paintings Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"The Disrobement of Draupadi, from a Mahabharata Series (Unknown Artist) , 1959.209,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Apr 24, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/216930. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 1959.209 People Unknown Artist Title The Disrobement of Draupadi, from a Mahabharata Series Classification Paintings Work Type painting Date 19th century Places Creation Place: South Asia, India, Himachal Pradesh Culture Indian Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/216930 Physical Descriptions Medium Opaque watercolor and gold on paper Dimensions 25.5 x 33.3 cm (10 1/16 x 13 1/8 in.) Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Mr. Frederic Wulsin Accession Year 1959 Object Number 1959.209 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description The painting depicts a pivotal scene from the Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. Draupadi, the daughter of Drupada, King of Panchala, has just been gambled away in a game of Parcheesi by her husband, Yudhishthira, King of Indraprashta. Her husband was a successful leader of the Pandava side in the Kurukshetra War, which the Mahabharata is the focus of. Yudhishthira lost his wife to Duryodhana and his magic dice. Duryodhana was the Crown Prince of the Hastinapur Kingdom and on the Kaurava side of the Kurukshetra war. Duryodhana was insulted by Draupadi, so this was an opportunity to humiliate her among all the many kings gathered at this gambling event. He asks his brother Dussasana to disrobe her. Draupadi realizes that her passive husband will not come to her aid, so she begins to pray to Krishna, the eighth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu who is revered was a deity in his own right, and is a major character in the Mahabharata. Miraculously, her sari seems to be never-ending, and eventually, Dussasana is exhausted from trying to disrobe her. The background features an assembly of kings seated on an enclosed terrace. The elderly king at the center of the terrace is the blind King Pandu, the father of Duryodhana. Standing at the edge of the center of the terrace with his arm extended is Duryodhana. He gestures to Dussasana, who attempts to disrobe Draupadi. She stands on a pile of fabric, signifying her never-ending garments. The Parcheesi game rests on the floor in the center. Verification Level This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
