Artist:Indian
Medium: Opaque watercolors and gold on paper
Geograhical Locations:
Dates:1760–1765
Dimensions: Sheet): 11 7/8 x 15 7/8 in. (30.2 x 40.3 cm) Image: 9 3/16 x 13 3/16 in. (23.3 x 33.5 cm)
Collections:
Accession Number: 82.227.2
Image: 82.227.2_PS2.jpg,
Catalogue Description: Leaning on his staff at the right, Krishna observes the seven expressionless poisoned cowherds and four motionless cattle arrayed in a single flat plane across a lifeless landscape. At the top, a band of value and a wide expanse of yellow streaked with red, blue, and gold, and a band of stylized clouds indicate the sky; gray waters are shown in the foreground. This narrative scene from the Bhagavata Purana [(Bk. 10, Ch. 15, vv. 48-50)] illustrates an episode in Krishna's life when the hero miraculously restores to life his boyhood friends, the cowherds, and their cows, which in this scene are shown dying from drinking the dark brown, poisoned waters of the Yamuna. There were many Bhagavata Purana sets painted in the Punjab Hill states. This page is from the so-called "fifth Bhagavata Purana series" (Archer 1973: vol. 1, p.49-51 and vol. 2 Basohli no. 22.) Archer points to the sparse and open compositions as indicative of the transitional phase of Guler-Basohli style painting, reflecting the influence of Mughal painting of the 1750s. In catalogue: Scene from the 10th and 11th Chapter of the "Bhagavata Purana" (which describes Krishna's life among the cowherds) showing the Blue God Krishna (at right) with the cowherds (gopas) and cows lying on the shores of the Ganges which had been poisoned. It is an episode in which Krishna miraculously revives the gopas and cows. Condition: Excellent. Arrived unmatted.