The painting is currently a part of the Moovidathu Madhom collection.
Mangala Bayi Thampuratty was the princess of Travancore house and the sister of the infamous painter and king Raja Ravi Varma. She was also the very first woman in India to hold an art house. Bayi learnt painting from her uncle Raja Raja Varma and would only go to her brother for suggestions. It was incredible of her to be an artist when everyone else expected women to only do household chores even as a princess. Bayi's usual mode or medium of painting was oil on canvas and would draw portraits of people, deities and scenes of someone's life.
This is actually an untitled painting with debates on it's title such as Bala Murugan or Bala Krishnan but it's not proven to be the exact title. The painting depicts little Krishna sitting stark naked on a huge pink lotus and adorned with jewellery and a butter ball in hand and some mushed over his upper lip and a bowl in his other hand. He is adorned with arm bands, necklaces bracelets, earrings and hair accessory worn on his bun adorned with a peacock feather. Bayi has painted his eyes filled with innocence and purity and he's sitting calmly on the huge lotus with another lotus hanging above his head, with small lotuses floating in and a big tree behind him and a tranquil lake and slighlty orange sky quiet depicting a sunset. The exact year of the creation of the painting is not mentioned anywhere but it's likely the painting was made between 1930s.
Bayi has used a bright pallete like bright pink, dark green and soft blue for the water with a hue of orange.
Bayi has beautifully depicted a divine yet heart filling and cute scene from Shri Krishna's life filling the hearts of the viewers with love, warmth and pure devotion.
Mangala Bayi's artwork reflects a deep connection between everyday life, tradition, and emotion. Her paintings often celebrate the beauty of ordinary people, especially women, through vibrant colours, expressive forms, and rich decorative details. Rather than focusing on realism, she emphasizes mood, identity, and cultural heritage. The composition creates a sense of warmth and familiarity while highlighting the dignity and resilience of its subjects. Her use of bold patterns and simplified figures gives the work a timeless quality, inviting viewers to appreciate the richness of Indian folk traditions. Overall, the artwork is a celebration of human experience, cultural pride, and the enduring beauty found in daily life.
