Krishna and Radha
Description
Krishna and Radha are seated in an ecstatic embrace in a palace garden on a seat of lotus petals reminding one of the lotus pedestal of Lakshmi and Narayan. The attendants on either side have offerings of flowers in their hands. A cluster of plantain trees and a canopy of large trees behind them, provide a beautiful background to the couple. Far behind are the domes and balconies of the palace. Small shiny decorations and the orange frame of the swing are indicative of the palace garden location.
Though not ascribed, the very sensuous yet refined treatment of the subject indicates the hand of a master artist.
Kishangarh painting owes its fame to poet prince Savant Singh whose pen name was Nagari Das, and his artist Nihal Chand. His beloved Bani-Thani is immortalized in many portraits in the form of Radha. In fact Radha and Krishna in Kishangarh paintings from the period of Savant Singh onwards, are stylized translations of the features of Bani-Thani and her lover prince Savant Singh. The present painting is one such example. Krishna wears a typical kind of pagdi known as albeliye pechon ka lapeta, an invention of Nagari Das.
The sensitive features of the lovers are a landmark of this school, particularly during the time of artist Nihal Chand. The narrow elongated face, the pointed chin, the sharp thrusting nose, the curved eye and arched eyebrow of the heroine are quite distinct from any other female facial type in Rajasthani painting.
Karl and Meherbai Khandalavala Collection.
Collection
Indian Miniature Paintings
Object Type
Miniature Painting
Material
Opaque watercolour on paper
Schools/Culture/Period
Kishangarh
Technique
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Date
1750 CE
Location
Rajasthan
Dimension
36.5 x 27.8 cms (with border), 17.5 x 10.5 cms (without border)