PROBABLY GULER, PUNJAB HILLS, NORTH INDIA, CIRCA 1810-20

The present painting of a young Krishna with Balarama and, most probably Nanda, is distinctive for its square proportions and squat, stocky figures. These features relate to Guler painting of the first half of the 19th century. The depiction of our Nanda in particular, and the detailed textiles are comparable to those in a boxy-format painting of Krishna as a butter thief, attributed to Guler circa 1820 now in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (IS.119-1960). The floral borders of our painting, with a five-petalled rosette rather than the more usual four, is very similar to a painting of Abhisarika Nayika attributed to Guler circa 1810-20 which sold in these rooms, 10 June 2013, lot 24. However, the figures could perhaps also relate to Garhwal painting of a similar period. This is seen in a painting in The Cleveland Museum of Art showing Vanasura’s Sons submitting to Krishna, attributed possibly to Garhwal in the 19^th century (1934.217).