Scenes from the Childhood of Krishna, from a Sur Sagar Manuscript

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Scenes from the Childhood of Krishna, from a Sur Sagar Manuscript

Artist Mewar School, attributed to Manohar (Indian, active 1640-1660)

Dynasty Mughal Dynasty (India, 1526 - 1858)

Place of OriginIndia

Dateabout 1655-1660

Dimensions11 1/2 x 9 7/16 in. (29.2 x 24 cm)

Mediumpigment on paper

ClassificationManuscripts

Credit LineMrs. George W. Stevens Fund

Object number

2002.33

Not on View

DescriptionOne Indian manuscript leaf from a dispersed folio done for the Mewar court in the mid 17th century, inscribed with some lines from the Hindu poem the Sur Sagar by Sur Das and showing scenes from the life of Krishna in two registers.

Label TextThis exquisite manuscript leaf illustrates three scenes from the Sur Sagar, or “Oceans of Melody,” a 16th-century lyrical poem by the blind poet Sur Das (1478–1581). A pillar of Indian literature, the extended poem portrays the childhood and coming of age of the Hindu god Krishna, the eighth avatar (or manifestation) of Vishnu. The painting’s top portion features two scenes from Krishna’s early childhood with his adoptive parents, the cattle-herders Nanda and Yashoda. On the left, Yashoda carries a jug of milk and has come to awaken Krishna. On the right, Krishna leads Nanda into a kitchen where Yashoda churns butter, Krishna’s favorite treat. In the lower register, an older Krishna plays his flute to entice gopis, or milkmaids, while also attracting cattle and fish. With its flat, stylized forms and saturated color, this painting exemplifies the style of the Mewar court, a powerful Rajput (Hindu) state. Hindu themes like this leaf remained dominant in Mewar paintings even after the conquest of the region by the Mughals (Muslim rulers of much of India) in 1568.Published ReferencesChaitanya, Krishna. "Rajsthani Traditions," New Delhi, 1982.

Chandra, Moti. "Mewar Painting," New Delhi, Lalit Kala Akademi, 1957.

Welch, Stuart Cary, India: Art and Culture 1300-1900, New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1985.

Leach, Linda, Mughal and Other Indian Paintings from the Chester Beatty Library, Art Media Resources, Ltd., 1995.

Leach, Linda, "Paintings from India" The Nassar D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, Vol. VIII, London, Nour Foundation, 1998.

Topsfield, Andrew, Court Painting at Udaipur, Zurich, Artibus Asiae Publishers, 2001.

Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Museum of Art Masterworks, Toledo, 2009, p. 32, repr. (col.).

Hawley, John Stratton, Sūrdās: Poet, Singer, Saint, Delhi, Primus Books, 2018, pp. 209, 211, 213, p. 212, fig. 7.4.

Exhibition HistoryToledo, Toledo Museum of Art, Princely Pursuits: Indian Miniature Painting, August 22-November 30, 2003, p. 10, repr. cover (det., col.), p. 11 (col.). (author Carolyn M. Putney)