SCENES FROM THE BHAGAVATA PURANA: THE LIFE OF KRISHNA
Possibly Jodhpur or Jaipur, Rajasthan, North-Western India, late 19th - early 20th century

Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting different scenes from the life of Krishna in chronological order arranged in horizontal strips, including infant Krishna being carried across the Yamuna river by Vasudev, protected by the serpent of Vishnu Vasuki; Krishna killing the crane demon Bakasura; making ghee butter with Yashoda and his step-brother; at the top a courtly couple performing puja to the murti of Shrinathji; the sky enhanced with swastika crosses, the hands and feet of the deity; the scene set within black and white rules, and bright red borders, 41cm x 29.4cm.