Late 19th - early 20th century

A Young Goswami

This painting was made in Rajasthan at Nathdwara, a pilgrimage site associated with Shrinathji, a form of the god Krishna. It shows a partially colored and corrected drawing of a young goswami (priest) from the Nathdwara lineage. The vertical lines on his head indicate his allegiance to Vishnu, of whom Krishna is an incarnation. The gold hoop earrings hung with two pearls and a gem are often associated with Nathdwara priests. The frontal portrayal reveals a different aesthetic from most of the works on view in this gallery, reflecting the impact of European (especially British) painting on India’s religious imagery at the time this was painted.