Unknown Artist
Folio from a dispersed series of the 'Bhagavata Purana'
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
This folio is from the earliest known illustrated manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana, a popular text of 18 000 verses composed around the year 900. The verses speak about the Hindu deity Vishnu, in particular, his form as the god Krishna. This illustration relates to events in Book 10 when the blue-skinned Krishna, together with his companions Balarama and Uddhava, visit the nobleman Akrura.
Paintings from this manuscript exemplify the 16th-century Chaurapanchasika style, which is characterised by bold primary colours applied in clearly bound sections, rich patterns contrasting with flat, unpatterned areas, and figures in strict profile enlivened by exaggerated gestures and crisp, sharply pointed drapery.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, September 2011
- Place of origin
-
North India,
India
- Cultural origin
- probably Uttar Pradesh
- Year
- circa 1520-circa 1530
- Media
- Painting, Watercolour
- Medium
- opaque watercolour (gouache) on paper
- Dimensions
- 17.9 x 23.6cm
- Credit
- Purchased 2007
- Accession number
- 286.2007
