A folio from the Bhagavata Purana: Krishna leaving Dwarka

NEPAL, CIRCA 1775

Details

A folio from the Bhagavata Purana: Krishna leaving Dwarka
Nepal, circa 1775
Depicting blue-skinned Krishna three times, once at middle left taking the blessing of a sage, once at center inside the palace walls in a procession with his brother, the white-skinned Balarama, as they head towards the city gates, and again on the shores as the procession leaves the city; within red borders with an inscription below and page number at upper left
Opaque pigments on wasli highlighted with gold
13¼ x 20 in. (33.6 x 50.8 cm.), painting
15 x 21 3/4 in. (38 x 55.2 cm.), folio

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Lot Essay

This painting could possibly depict the visit of Sage Narada Muni to Krishna in Dvaraka. After defeating the demon Naraka, Krishna simultaneously married sixteen thousand maidens (see lot 257), and the sage wished to observe Krishna's family life for himself. In the present painting, it may be he framed by the white wall greeting Krishna and his wives, and each turret visible in the city may represent the individual palaces inhabited by each of Krishna's queens.

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