INDIA, RAJASTHAN, 19TH CENTURY

Bright colors and touches of gold bring this scene of a lover’s garden to life. Krishna, a blue-skinned incarnation of Vishnu, together with Radha, symbolize eternal love. The scenes depicted, clockwise from top, are: Krishna and Balarama seated under the kadamba tree and sharing a meal with fellow cowherders; Krishna as a child and his friends stealing butter; Krishna delivering a message to Radha through her fellow gopis; Krishna and Radha seated on the Jamuna River; Krishna and Radha seated together on a swing, symbolizing their union; the Dana Lila; Krishna and Radha performing puja; Krishna and Radha in a boat ride on the Jamuna River; Krishna playing flute in the kadamba tree after stealing the clothes of the bathing gopis; and Krishna and Radha leading the cowherders in playing holi. At center, Krishna and Radha stand in the garden with gopis.