A painting of the marriage of Krishna and Rukmini

INDIA, GARHWAL, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Details

A painting of the marriage of Krishna and Rukmini
India, Garhwal, early 19th century
Krishna crowned and seated at centre holding a long spoon and pushing aside his veil, his wife Rukmini seated beside him with her hand guiding his wrist, a pair of brahmins seated before them performing the ceremony and holding religious texts, surrounded by courtiers bearing food and drink and playing musical instruments, all within red tent walls, with further figures at lower right
Opaque pigments and gold on paper
7½ x 11 1/8 in. (19.2 x 28.2 cm.), image
10¼ x 14 1/8 in. (25.0 x 35.8 cm.), folio

Provenance

Private collection, London

Lot Essay

In contrast to the grandiose pomp of typical Indian weddings, the marriage of Krishna and Rukmini had to be performed in a hurry, lest they be discovered by Rukmini's brother, Rukmi. The artist has conveyed this sense of urgency by omitting the mandapa, the traditional wedding canopy, and showing the ceremony has commenced before the ritual fire has been started. For another painting of the same subject and with similar composition, see J.L. Davidson, Art of the Indian Subcontinent from Los Angeles Collections, 1968, illus. no. 143.

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