KRISHNA AND RADHA MEETING IN A FOREST
Possibly Basohli, Pahari Hills, North India, 19th century

Opaque pigments heightened with gold and foil on paper, the horizontal composition depicting an intimate encounter between Lord Krishna and his lover Radha, the couple meeting under the supervision of Radha’s sakhi (confidante) in a forest, the scene illustrating the moment Radha is handing over a lotus, symbol of purity and transformation, to her beloved Krishna, wearing a crown with lotus buds, the jewellery and adornments of the three characters enhanced with flakes of coloured foil, the composition set within gold and white rules, and bright red borders, mounted, glazed and framed, 21cm x 31cm excluding the frame.