Polychrome pichhavai on canvas, highlighted with gold
India, Nathdwara, 19th/20th century
Dancing scene with Krishna and Gopis in a country setting with mountains in the background
Framed by floral tendrils
Fine painting with exquisite detail
Harmonious colors
Total dimensions in a brown wooden frame: 119 x 96.5 cm (unopened)
Good condition

The depiction shows an episode of Krishna’s life is the Shrimad Bhagavata with the Rasa Lila, also known as Rasa Panchadhyayi. The latter tells how the Gopi, in the full moon night in the month of Ashvina, are attracted by the emphatic sounds of Krishna’s flute and flock to the river Vrindavana. In their ecstatic happiness the Rasa dance in a large circle with the Gopi and each one of them miraculously finds the lord of their heart, and they dance as if they are alone.

Krishna

The prince Krishna is deified as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and is recognized as the Supreme Being descended on earth. He has a bluish skin complexion, is playing the flute and usually wears a peacock feather in his hair. Together with his lover Radha, he lives in his heavenly abode Goloka.

Pichhavai

Nathdwara painting refers to the traditional painting and School of artists that aroused in Nathdwara, a town in the district of Rajsamand in the Western area of Rajasthan in India. There are different sub-categories of Nathdwara painting that Pichhavai belongs to as the most prominent category. The word Pichhavai derives from the Sanskrit word ‘pich’ meaning ‘back’ and ‘havai’ meaning ‘hanging’. Pichhavai are paintings on cloth that are hung behind images of the Hindu god Shrinathji. Nathdwara painting is again a sub-category of Mewar style and is seen as one of the most important streams of miniature painting of the 17th and 18th Centuries.

Condition: The Pichwai is good condition with usual signs of age and use. Some color wear and folding lines are visible. The total height with frame measures 119 cm and the width is 96.5 cm.

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