Skip to main content
Advanced Search
The Hindu god Krishna gazes into a mirror held by his consort, from a Rasikapriya (Connoisseur's Delights) series
The Hindu god Krishna gazes into a mirror held by his consort, from a Rasikapriya (Connoisseur's Delights) series

The Hindu god Krishna gazes into a mirror held by his consort, from a Rasikapriya (Connoisseur's Delights) series

Artist (Indian)
Place of OriginRajasthan state, India, former kingdom of Bikaner
Date1749
MaterialsOpaque watercolors and gold on paper
DimensionsH. 10 1/4 in x W. 7 5/8 in, H. 26.0 cm x W. 19.4 cm
Credit LineGift of Elton L. Puffer
Object number2004.51
DepartmentSouth Asian Art
ClassificationsPainting
On View
Not on view
More Information
This page comes from a series illustrating a well-known sixteenth-century poetic treatise on love, a popular theme of Indian paintings. The Hindu deity Krishna and his consort Radha appear in the Rasikapriya text as ideal lovers. Radha holds up a mirror for Krishna, whose face is reflected in it. In Indian art, the mirror has two meanings: associations with beauty and vanity, and reflections of the relationship between god and the human soul. Here the mirror plays on both references, reflecting the Absolute Reality underlying the universe (in the person of Krishna). An inscription on the reverse of the painting identifies the artist as Qayam, son of the painter Murad.
A Confidante delivers a message from the Hindu deity Krishna to his consort Radha, from a manuscript of the Rasikapriya (Connoisseur's Delights)
A Confidante delivers a message from the Hindu deity Krishna to his consort Radha, from a manuscript of the Rasikapriya (Connoisseur's Delights)
1634
A female ascetic warns Krishna, from a Rasikapriya (Connoisseur's Delights) series
A female ascetic warns Krishna, from a Rasikapriya (Connoisseur's Delights) series
approx. 1800
The Hindu god Krishna and his consort Radha sit in a pavilion while cows nurse their young outside
The Hindu god Krishna and his consort Radha sit in a pavilion while cows nurse their young outside
approx. 1780-1790
The Hindu deity Krishna and his beloved, personifying a musical mode (Dipaka Raga), from a Ragamala series
The Hindu deity Krishna and his beloved, personifying a musical mode (Dipaka Raga), from a Ragamala series
approx. 1760
The Hindu deity Krishna and his consort sheltered from the rain by an umbrella
The Hindu deity Krishna and his consort sheltered from the rain by an umbrella
approx. 1800-1900
The Hindu god Krishna and his brother Balarama in a chariot, from a manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Tales of the Lord Vishnu)
The Hindu god Krishna and his brother Balarama in a chariot, from a manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Tales of the Lord Vishnu)
approx. 1775-1800
The Hindu deity Krishna dancing with the young cowherder women, personifying a musical mode (Vasanta Ragini), from a Ragamala series
The Hindu deity Krishna dancing with the young cowherder women, personifying a musical mode (Vasanta Ragini), from a Ragamala series
Muhammed Faqir-ullah Khan
approx. 1750-1760
A Prince and his consort enjoying fireworks
A Prince and his consort enjoying fireworks
approx. 1740-1760
Balarama, brother of the Hindu deity Krishna, slays the ass-demon Dhenuka; and Krishna cares for his tired brother Balarama, from a manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Tales of the Lord Vishnu)
Balarama, brother of the Hindu deity Krishna, slays the ass-demon Dhenuka; and Krishna cares for his tired brother Balarama, from a manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Tales of the Lord Vishnu)
approx. 1630-1650
The Hindu deity Vishnu slays the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, from a Devi Mahatmya series
The Hindu deity Vishnu slays the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, from a Devi Mahatmya series
approx. 1760
The Hindu god Krishna converses with the Pandava brother Yudhishthira, from a manuscript of the Razmnama (a Persian translation of the Mahabharata)
The Hindu god Krishna converses with the Pandava brother Yudhishthira, from a manuscript of the Razmnama (a Persian translation of the Mahabharata)
1616-1617
The Hindu deity Krishna is told of the longing his beloved Radha feels for him
The Hindu deity Krishna is told of the longing his beloved Radha feels for him
approx. 1720