An Image of Shrinathji Dressed for Radha's Birthday

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An Image of Shrinathji Dressed for Radha's Birthday

Artist Kotah School

Place of OriginIndia

Dateabout 1840

Dimensionssheet: 8 x 5 11/16 in. (20.3 x 14.4 cm)
image: 6 7/8 x 4 5/8 in. (17.4 x 11.7 cm)

Mediumopaque watercolor and gold on paper

ClassificationDrawings

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

2007.103

Not on View

Label TextBright and colorful, this image depicts a shrine sculpture of Shrinathji, a manifestation of the Hindu god Krishna. The idol, sculpted out of a single piece of black marble that dates to the 12th century, still resides in the temple dedicated to the deity, located in the small village of Nathdwara not far from Udaipur in India. Three times during the year—on the festivals celebrating the birthdays of Krishna, Krishna's consort Radha, and Krishna's son—the sculpted image of Shrinathji is dressed as he is depicted here, wearing a special four-pointed coat, a turban adorned with peacock feathers, multiple strands of beads and flowers around his neck, and carrying a flute and a lotus flower. His chutilla—a bejeweled artificial braid—swings out elegantly behind him. The inscription on this painting tells us that he is dressed for Radha's celebration. Various offerings are placed on the altar before him.Published ReferencesAmbalal, A., Krishna as Srinathji: Rajasthani Paintings from Nathdwara, Ahmedabad, 1987.

Bautze, Joachim. "Scenes of Devotion and Court Life: Painting under Maharao Ram Singh of Kota" in Andrew Topsfield, ed., Court Painting in Rajasthan, Marg Publications, Bombay, 2000, pp. 123-38.

Skelton, Robert. Rajasthani Temple Hangings of the Krishna Cult, American Federation of the Arts, New York, 1973.

Welch, Stuart Carey. Gods, Kings and Tigers: the Art of Kotah, Munich and New York, 1997.

Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Museum of Art Masterworks, Toledo, 2009, p. 34, repr. (col.).