Krishna, Balarama, and the Cowherds Have a Meal of Rice

Currently not on view

Krishna, Balarama, and the Cowherds Have a Meal of Rice

c. 1740-1750

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

This page is one of three from the same lively Bhagavata Purana series, perhaps by a painter working for a nonroyal patron. The paper is wider than it is high, reflecting the traditional format of loose-leaf religious manuscripts, called pothi, which were originally written on palm leaves. The yellow margins at the top of each page were probably prepared for short verses indicating the episode-although none of the known pages are inscribed. This page shows Krishna and Balarama eating rice and yogurt with the cowherds, most likely outside the walls of Vrindavan. However, it might depict a later episode in which they share a meal outside the walls of Mathura.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Krishna, Balarama, and the Cowherds Have a Meal of Rice
Page from a dispersed series of the Bhagavata Purana

Date:

c. 1740-1750

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Opaque watercolor on paper

Dimensions:

Image: 4 7/16 × 11 15/16 inches (11.3 × 30.3 cm) Sheet: 5 1/4 × 12 inches (13.3 × 30.5 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994

Accession Number:

1994-148-434

Geography:

Made in Kota, Rajasthan, India, Asia

Context:

Dynasty: Hada Chauhan Dynasty, Kota (1631-1948/1949?)

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Currently not on view