Krishna massaging the feet of Radha (a scene from the Gita Govinda?) / Artist Unknown, India, Punjab Hills, Mankot School
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1979/1.160
- Title
- Krishna massaging the feet of Radha (a scene from the Gita Govinda?)
- Artist Nationality
- Indian
- Medium and Support
- ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and beetle thorax casings on paper
- Object Creation Date
- circa 1730
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- India (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Asia (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- India (nation)
- Style/Group/Movement
- Rajput/Pahari
- Dimensions
- 26.7 cm x 20.3 cm (10 1/2 in. x 8 in.)
- Century
- 18th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Painting
- Primary Object Type
- album leaf
- Physical Description
- Bold colors depict Krishna, one of human manifestations of the Hindu god Vishnu, is seated with a woman, Radha, above him. He touches her leg, and the tips of her hands and feet glow red. She sits erect and holds a large flower, looking straight off the left edge of the picture. The two are framed in an architectural structure.
- Subject Matter
- Krishna, the cowherd of Vrindavan, was one of human manifestations of the Hindu god Vishnu. Precocious and naughty as a child, he grew to overcome many obstacles and conquer ferocious demons to save himself and his tribe. The love affair between Krishna and his favorite gopi (cowgirl), Radha, is a common theme in north Indian painting. Their passionate relationship is a metaphor for the unquenchable love of the soul for the supreme god. As seen here, it is not always Radha who is in a subservient position in this love affair: often Radha is proud and aloof, and it is Krishna who is the ardent wooer.
- The bold design, intense color, and jewel-encrusted effect (accomplished by the use of beetle thorax casings) are all characteristic of hill painting of the early eighteenth century—as is the stirring combination of fiery passion and dignified reserve.
- Secondary Keywords
- image form
- associated concepts
- biological components
- buildings and the land
- components
- components and systems
- components by specific context
- herbaceous plants
- landscapes (environments)
- legs
- lower body
- natural landscapes
- objects we use
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people by gender
- people by state or condition
- plants
- religions
- religions and religious concepts
- settlements and landscapes
- the human body
- vegetation and vegetation components
- vegetation components
- views
- views by vantage point or orientation
- visual works
- visual works by form
- visual works by subject type
- woody plants
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 845 x 1121
- File Size
- 99 KB
- Record
- 1979/1.160
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1979-sl-1.160/1979_1.160.jpg
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Related Links
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- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1979-SL-1.160:1979_1.160.JPG
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- Full citation
-
"Krishna massaging the feet of Radha (a scene from the Gita Govinda?); Artist Unknown, India, Punjab Hills, Mankot School." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1979-sl-1.160/1979_1.160.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 16, 2024.