Krishna Shares Food with Balarama and the Cowherds during the Rainy Season

Currently not on view

Krishna Shares Food with Balarama and the Cowherds during the Rainy Season

c. 1570-1575

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

The god-hero Krishna and his brother Balarama enjoy a meal of rice and curds together with their cowherd friends from the village of Vrindavan, where Krishna spent his childhood. The meal takes place in a grove made lush by the rainy season. Elements such as expanses of bold, flat color; a red ground behind the main figures; a layered, stagelike setting; and profile heads with big, fish-shaped eyes typify indigenous north Indian manuscript painting known from the eleventh century. It was from this milieu that Rajput painting grew, blended with the distinctive Persian-influenced style of the powerful Mughal court.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Krishna Shares Food with Balarama and the Cowherds during the Rainy Season
Page from a series of the Bhagavata Purana (Story of the Lord Vishnu)

Date:

c. 1570-1575

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Opaque watercolor on paper

Dimensions:

Image: 5 1/2 × 8 3/4 inches (14 × 22.2 cm) Sheet: 7 7/16 × 9 7/16 inches (18.9 × 24 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

125th Anniversary Acquisition. Alvin O. Bellak Collection, 2004

Accession Number:

2004-149-10

Geography:

Made in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-Agra Region, India, Asia Probably made in Rajasthan, India, Asia

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.

Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.

Currently not on view