The Birth of Krishna in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts June 2018

Page from a Bhagavata Purana Series: The Birth of Krishna (Primary Title)

Unknown (Artist)

Date: ca. 1780-1800

Culture: Indian

Category: Paintings
Works On Paper

Medium: opaque watercolor on paper

Collection: South Asian Art

Geography: Punjab Hills, Mandi, India

Dimensions: Overall: 7 5/16 × 10 3/8 in. (18.57 × 26.35 cm)
Mat: 16 × 20 in. (40.64 × 50.8 cm)

Object Number: 68.8.88

After a heavenly voice prophesized the fate of King Kansa— that he would be killed by a child born to his sister Devaki— the evil king executed each of his nephews and nieces as they were born and imprisoned his sister and her husband, Vasudeva. While confined, Devaki gave birth to the blueskinned Krishna. Depicted here is the miracle surrounding the child’s delivery, when the couple’s chains fell off and, at the same time, their jailors began to snore and the cell doors magically opened. Fully grown, haloed, and bearing his usual attributes, Krishna stands on a cosmic lotus flanked by his adoring parents. Kansa’s guards—a motley group of armed soldiers, snakes, demons, and animals—have fallen into deep slumber. This gaily colored, rather folksy picture was painted in the northwest hill state of Mandi.

Additional Information

Inscription: Inscribed in ink lower right: "K _ (?)/ 103"

Credit Line: Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Gift of Paul Mellon

Published References:
Dye, Joseph M. The Arts of India: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. London: Philipp Wilson, 2001. (cat. no. 145, p. 342)

Text from: www.vmfa.museum/piction/6027262-79574749