Krishna arriving at Radha's house
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Watercolor |
| Current Location: | Victoria and Albert Museum in London |
This beautiful example of Miniature Painting entitled ‘Krishna Arriving at Radha’s House’ is taken from an illustrated version of the Rasamanjari (Blossom-Cluster of Delight) written by the poet Bhanudatta. It was painted in the Basohli sub-style of the Pahari School during approximately 1660-1670. The piece is currently housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. An important piece in Indian history, this painting thrived under the patronage of Raja Kirpal Pal, ruler of the small but culturally rich Basohli kingdom of the Western Himalayas. This painting holds great cultural significance as it represents a link between classical Sanskrit literature and the extreme passion associated with the religious Bhakti movement. Originally a psychological treatise on lovers written by Bhanudatta in the 15 th Century the artists of Basohli have ingeniously transformed the main characters into Radha and Krishna (God and Goddess). This therefore transformed passion into a holy symbol representing the human soul’s yearning to connect with God. The painting is famous for its passionate feel. Bright blocks of colour have been used to give the painting a strong sense of vibrancy. These colours are orange and yellow creating an intense atmosphere. The characters are also depicted with a typical Basohli style. They have the characteristic Basohli head shape with prominent and receding foreheads and big, dramatic eye shapes resembling lotus petals. The artist has used a very luxurious method to create this piece. He has attached pieces of shiny green beetle wing cases to the paper to create a jewellery effect using emerald colours. The folio has been surrounded by decorative architecture representing the hills states. The piece has been labelled with a title written using the local historical script known as Takri. This label has been placed on top of a crown. The piece perfectly represents the feelings and unique style of early Pahari paintings.
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