Krishna and the Cowherds Dive into the River, from a Rasikapriya

c. 1640

Maker Unknown

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Krishna and the Cowherds Dive into the River, from a Rasikapriya, c. 1640. Central India, Madhya Pradesh, Malwa. Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; page: 20.6 x 17.8 cm (8 1/8 x 7 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.126 Krishna and seven cowherds (gopas) playfully jump into a river, depicted as a wavy tricolor band that divides the composition diagonally in half. Krishna and four others are already airborne, while three get ready to jump. Radha and her friends witness this feat in amusement from a marble platform. The milkmaids are fully dressed, while Krishna and the cowherds are wearing kaupina loincloths. The boys are shown in subtly different sizes to convey their movement through space.

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Maker Unknown
Classification: Painting
Formatted Medium: gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Medium: gum, tempera, ink, gold, paper
Dimensions: Page: 20.6 x 17.8 cm (8 1/8 x 7 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: atha nyaute kau milnu.2. nyauti kai bulaī hutī betī vṛṣabhānajū kī, jeṃvai kau jasodā rānī ānī hai siṃgārikai. bhojanu kai ūpara bhavana gāi pāna khāti dekhive kau ke sauda sa ānadu vicārikai. dekhata dekhata hari bhavate koṃ bhāgi dekhi. dauri gahī vyalu aisī veṃnī daru daru darikai. bheṃti bhari anka mana bhāyau kari chaṃdi muhu kesari sam mādi laī besari utārike. 1000000000 Translation: Description of the invitation. Today Yashoda invited Vrishabhanu’s daughter to her home for a meal. After food, Radha was chewing betel and feeling happy. She climbed the steps to the inside of the house. Suddenly, she came upon Krishna, and, seeing him, she started running away. Krishna fearlessly held her braid and then embraced her fondly and left her only after he had removed her nose ring and applied saffron on her face. [Number] ‘1000000000’ Remark: Verso: Text. No relation of the verse with the divers Written by Keshavdasa Ath Nyote ko Milnu Nyote ki Bulaye huti Beti Vrishbhanu ju ki Jaivanke ko Yasoda Rani Aati Hai Shingari ke Bhojanu ke Upar Bhawan Gayi Paan Khati Dekhi Ve Ko Kesavdas Aan Duvichare Ke Dekhat Dekhat Hari Bhanvate kon Bhangi Dekhi Dori Gahi Veni Thalu Aisi Veni Daru darunda Ri Ke Bhenti Bhari Ank Man Bhavo Kari Chhandi Mukh Ke Sarsison Madil a vesari utarike 1000000000
Departments: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Accession Number: 2018.126
Credit Line: Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
Exhibitions: Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation)
Rights Statement: CC0