ManuscriptsIndian18th century

Krishna Approaches the Cowherds at Their Forest Encampment (painting, recto; text, verso), folio from a Bhagavata Purana series

late 18th century

Description

On the recto side of this folio is a painting that features the blue-skinned Hindu god Krishna approaching a group of cowherds at their encampment. On the verso side of this folio are verses from the tenth book of the Bhagavata Purana’s chapter fourteen, which describes the encounter between Brahma and Krishna. Brahma, in order to test Krishna, abducts his fellow cowherds and their cows, only to realize that Krishna was able to miraculously rescue them. The moment depicted in the folio corresponds to the text on the reverse: Krishna, having gone away for a whole year, appears to his cowherd friends as returning only a moment after he had disappeared. This folio most likely belonged to a Bhagavata Purana series produced in Guler. Another possible folio from the same series is 1974.109. Scholars have attributed this painting to the Pahari painter, Manaku of Guler (c. 1700 - 1760 CE). Rajput, Pahari, Guler School. Text on Verso: Bhagavata Purana, Book Ten, Chapter 14, verses 42-45.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Culture

Indian

Century

18th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art