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Krishna in a garden
Krishna in a garden

Krishna in a garden

Dateca. 1700
Label TextKrishna, painted blue to show that he is an avatar of Vishnu, is the focus of this composition. His admirers serenade him and offer him libations at the top; three figures at the bottom of the bower prepare themselves to meet him. Along with the human worshippers, the entire landscape teems with excitement. A rushing river surrounds Krishna, who sits on a floating lotus, establishing him as a distinctive blue spotlight amidst the green forest. It also creates a strong visual line to the painting’s bottom half as the river becomes a cascading waterfall, directing the eye to the swimming gopis (cow-herding women) gazing longingly upwards toward Krishna. Together, the environment and the humans are elated to be in Krishna’s presence.
Object number62.92
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Luminous: The Art of Asia, Oct. 13, 2011 - Jan. 8, 2012. Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing [on view July 16 - Dec. 5, 2021].
Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection
Dimensions9 1/8 x 6 1/8 in. (23.18 x 15.56 cm) Overall h.: 17 in. Overall w.: 13 1/2 in.
MediumOpaque watercolor on paper
Photo: Paul Macapia
Riza Abbasi
1629 - 1635
Object number: 50.111
Akbarnama battle scene and garden border
Indian
late 16th - early 17th century
Object number: 54.34
Amir Khusrau the poet receives his friend Ali
Indian
ca. 1450
Object number: 63.39
Game Bird; Hunting scene
Indian
17th century
Object number: 59.45
Photo: Elizabeth Mann
Indian
ca. 1685
Object number: 44.44
Nobleman and Reader with Attendants
Indian
probably 16th century
Object number: 40.34
Portrait of Shah Aurangzeb with a man, possibly Ashraf Khan
Indian
early 18th century
Object number: 38.154
Portrait of Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan)
Indian
first quarter 17th century
Object number: 44.650
Elephant and mahout (elephant driver)
Indian
ca. 1595-1600
Object number: 57.78
Falcon
Indian
17th century
Object number: 57.79
Portrait of a man
Indian
17th century
Object number: 57.80