| Description |
Airlangga was the son of Mahendradatta (a princess of the Isyana Dynasty, Medang) and Udayana Warmadewa (a king –raja– of the Warmadewa Dynasty, Bali). He grew up in the Watugaluh Palace, under the government of Dharmawangsa. At that time, Medang had become a reasonably powerful kingdom, although subject to Bali, and had established a colony in West Kalimantan, as well as attacking the Sriwijaya Empire. In 1006, when Airlangga was sixteen, Sriwijaya retaliated against Medang for the attacks upon the Empire. Wurawari (an ally of Sriwijaya) burned Watugaluh Palace, and Dharmawangsa was killed in the battle, along with many of his subjects. Airlangga escaped into the jungle and became a hermit, accompanied by his guard, Narotama. This painting is part of a series of two paintings (with #59). A set with the same design was exposed at the exhibition “Pameran Lukisan Kaca Sulasno”, which was held by Bentara Budaya Jogjakarta on 7-14 April 1993. A version without decorative leaves frame was exposed at the exhibition “Kaca-kaca Berlukisan Tradisi Jawa Tengah”, which was held by Bentara Budaya Jakarta on 1-5 September 1992. |
